Policy Driven Initiative for Promoting Electric Vehicles to Combat Climate Change in the Developing Countries: A Case From Bhutan

Abstract

Climate change is a growing threat of current time and the future generations. Contribution from manmade activities is observed increasingly, posing the threats to mankind as well as the environment. With advancement of socioeconomic development of the country, there arises a series of challenges associated with it. The emissions from the developmental activities and the consequences are vital to be monitored and timely corrective actions are needed. Thus, climate change is the greatest threats at present time and has a series of effects if the trends of activities continue as usual. Research made use of primary data which are both qualitative and quantitative in nature to understand the issues of climate change, policy intervention and the implementation, especially in the case of Bhutan. This study showed that one such growing threat of emissions and effect to climate change are increasing number of vehicles making transport sectors as strong contributors of emissions (esp. Greenhouse Gas (GHG)). With pace of development, there are positive indicators of per capita GDP growth which increases the purchasing power and affordability of individuals. This linkage is visible in the trends of current rise in ownership of vehicles with even sharp rise noticed in developing countries like Bhutan. Electric vehicles are found to be promising interventions in growing transport sectors. To curb the issues of rise in the number of vehicles and provide a conductive platform for the purchase and use of electric vehicles, a right policy intervention seems instrumental. A small landlocked country Bhutan is remarked to practice guided policy interventions, backed by its unique developmental philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) that aimed for holistic socioeconomic development. Such measures of balancing societal and developmental activities seem to track its approach in a timely manner to make the policy and support mechanism favorable for promotion of the green transport system in Bhutan.