Gross National Happiness, Climate Justice, and Challenges Ahead: Perspectives from the Kingdom of Bhutan 

Bhutan has gone through tremendous development over the last 50 years, yet it remains one of only eight carbon neutral countries in the world. This lecture will discuss the history of Bhutan's carbon negative status, how it has engaged in sustainable development, and the difficulties of remaining carbon negative. Bhutan faces some challenges over the next decade that make it an even more interesting case to consider. In response to economic stagnation and emigration, Bhutan has broken ground on what is being described as a "mindful", eco-industrial charter city where a small town, Gelephu is now, on the Bhutan-Indian Border. This raises many issues.

David Tushaus is the Assistant Dean of Graduate and Experiential Education at Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law. Professor Tushaus has worked on human rights issues his entire career. He was a staff attorney and clinic director for the Midwest Innocence Project and the University of Missouri – Kansas City prior to coming to JSW. Before that, he was a professor and Chairperson in the Department of Criminal Justice, Legal Studies, and Social Work at Missouri Western State University. He developed human rights, applied learning approaches to teaching legal research, legal drafting, election law, and human rights. He received the Missouri Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education in 2011 and the Distinguished Professor Award in 2009.