“We should let mother nature govern us, not we govern mother nature.” This powerful statement was given by Prof. Thakur S. Powdyel, the former Minister of Education, Royal Government of Bhutan, and it woke me up.

For decades, we have debated climate change from material perspectives, focusing on industrial development, limiting greenhouse gas emissions, capturing emissions from the atmosphere, and financing the transition. However, little to no attention has been paid to the spiritual aspects of the human-nature relationship on this planet. Professor Thakur has brought this perspective to the forefront.

One may wonder why Bhutan is the one of the few carbon-negative countries in the world. The answer lies in its culture, and the monarchy plays a crucial role in nurturing and maintaining this culture. The land, Buddhism, and the monarchy are the three gems of Bhutan. The land is where they live and obtain resources. Buddhism is Bhutan’s state religion of Bhutan, permeating nearly every aspect of its society. The Bhutanese government actively supports Budhhism and ensures the preservation of Buddhist traditions. Bhutanese understand and practice “sustainability” from a young age because Buddhism asks its followers to have respect towards all forms of life, including human, insects, trees, birds, flowers and more. The King preserves spirituality very well. Nature is not only inhabited by humans but also by non-human beings, including spirits. Due to their respect for all life, Bhutanese do not exploit the natural resources for their own greed. Instead, they consume resources mindfully and thoughtfully to ensure that other beings and future generations can share these resources.

One might argue that Bhutan is not a rich country due to its culture. It may not be rich in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but it is rich in Gross National Happiness (GNH). GNH is the North Star Bhutan has found and will continue to use. Prof. Thakur admitted that the GNH path is difficult, but they know it will lead them to a sweet end. The GDP path may seem much easier, but its end is full of uncertainties and suffering.

Bhutan sets an example for the rest of the world, encouraging us to pause and consider future generations with every decision we make. That’s true sustainability. Humans have long disconnected with themselves due to the fast-paced lives we lead today. Climate change is a global crisis affecting all species on Earth. We, Homo sapiens (the wise human), must rethink our approach to climate change and become the stewards of God’s creation. It’s now or never.