On 14th August 2025, Ms. Ko Barrett, the Deputy Secretary General of World Meteorological Organization (WMO), called onto Hon’ble Lyonpo, Ministry of Energy & Natural resources. Arranged on the sidelines of the on-going INC 5.2 Plastic Treaty negotiation in Geneva, Switzerland, the meeting is expected to reinforce Bhutan’s long-standing partnership with WMO.

Since joining WMO in 2003, Bhutan has received numerous vital support in weather, climate, and hydrology- critical for safeguarding the hydropower and agriculture sectors. Lyonpo expressed deep appreciation for WMO’s assistance, including the Climate Services Toolkit Project, capacity-building for the National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM), the Flash Flood Guidance System, and fellowships for Bhutanese professionals.

A highlight was the USD 4.5 million SOFF Project, which will establish Bhutan’s first upper-air observation system in Tsirang, significantly improving global climate data and early warning systems. Bhutan now also shares real-time weather data from its five SYNOP stations to help fill global high-altitude data gaps.

Given Bhutan’s vulnerability to climate change and its status as a carbon-negative country, Lyonpo urged WMO to include Bhutan in the “Early Warnings for All” initiative, benefitting not only Bhutan but also downstream countries.

Ms. Barrett thanked Bhutan and the Ministry of Energy & Natural Resources for the leadership and commitment towards the global pursuit in climate and climate-related. To demonstrate Bhutan’s climate pursuit, upper-air observation and early warning systems, WMO will be offering Bhutan WMO pavilion during the COP 30 in Brazil. Further, she said WMO looks forward for Bhutan’s participation in the upcoming High-Level Event on Early Warning for All (EW4All) initiative in October 2025.

Lyonpo thanked WMO for the support and extended invitation to the WMO leadership to visit Bhutan at an appropriate time and witness firsthand the shared commitment to protecting people and ecosystems.