Bhutan adopts Gross Ecosystem Product as national economic measure

Bhutan has become the first nation to adopt Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) as a national-level economic measure. Announced by Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay in New York during Climate Week and the Science Summit 2026, the GEP is intended to complement Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rather than replace it.

For 2024, Bhutan’s GEP was estimated at approximately US$6.2 billion. The metric assigns a monetary value to the services provided by the country’s natural landscapes, including forests, rivers, and soils. These services include carbon sequestration, water regulation, flood risk reduction, and support for agriculture and tourism.

By translating the contributions of nature into economic terms, the GEP aims to make natural assets more visible in decisions regarding infrastructure, investment, and climate-resilience planning. This move aligns with Bhutan’s existing development philosophy, which includes the Gross National Happiness framework and emphasizes environmental conservation alongside economic and social wellbeing.