Discourses of Climate Change in the Bhutan Himalayas: Research Trends, Adaptation Funding and Policy Options

Abstract

Bhutan is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the eastern Himalayas due to the interaction of biophysical impacts, sociocultural narratives, and policy responses. This study analyses climate change research and discourse in Bhutan by examining research trends, adaptation funding mechanisms, and policy responses that shape national resilience strategies. It draws on a literature review using Scopus database searches, with attention to journal subject areas, institutional affiliations, and research output. The study also synthesises empirical data on demographic vulnerabilities and climate hazards across the most vulnerable Dzongkhags in Bhutan. Findings indicate that Bhutan faces multiple climate-related hazards and risks, with eastern and southern Dzongkhags exhibiting the highest vulnerability. However, research activities remain disproportionately concentrated in western regions. Although Bhutan’s small population and geographic size have not limited research productivity, local funding constraints are often offset by external agencies; however, such research funding is not consistently utilised in the vulnerable region where projects are implemented. The study underscores the role of climate narratives in shaping adaptation priorities and access to funding, offering insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in Bhutan and beyond.