Dasho Tshering Tobgay is Bhutan’s seventh Prime Minister and a prominent voice on sustainable development, climate leadership, and holistic wellbeing. A former civil servant and accomplished public administrator, he co-founded the People's Democratic Party and previously served as Prime Minister from 2013 to 2018 before returning to office in 2024. Known globally for articulating Bhutan’s unique development philosophy of Gross National Happiness, he has championed policies that balance economic progress with environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and social equity. Under his leadership, Bhutan has reinforced its commitment to remaining carbon-negative, strengthening climate resilience, protecting forests and watersheds, and advancing inclusive rural development. Prime Minister Tobgay is widely recognized for his compelling TED Talk and international advocacy on climate justice, the Himalayan “water towers,” and the vulnerabilities of small, mountainous nations.

Asia and the Pacific face a rapidly intensifying crisis at the nexus of climate change, food insecurity, nature-loss and water stress. ADB has launched a $40 billion program to transform food systems and strengthen water resilience across its developing member countries. This includes expanding the use of integrated landscape approaches, natural capital investments, and multi-sector solutions to address the climate–food–nature nexus. The high-level dialogue with the Prime Minister of Bhutan provided an opportunity to deepen institutional understanding of these challenges and inspire new operational directions. Bhutan, as a carbon-negative nation whose glaciers and mountain ecosystems form critical parts of Asia’s water towers, offers powerful insights into the stewardship of natural capital, climate adaptation, and holistic development.