What is the issue?

Climate change is affecting the Hindu Kush Himalaya with extreme temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns. This has an impact on agricultural production of which most people depend on for their income. The dependency on agriculture together with extreme climate events put people in this region at risk of reducing or losing their income sources.

How can green-start ups help?

Creating green entrepreneurships can increase people’s socio-economic resilience through building capacity and diversifying income. Green start-ups builds on traditional and local knowledge and can increase the profitability of local practices.

Chimi Dema bake cookies with dru-na-gu, a traditional Bhutanese mix of nine cereals. She joined the start up centre in Timphu, Bhutan with little entrepreneur experience. Now Chimi has hired four employees full-time and develeoped a multi-year business plan. In five years’ time she plans to transfer her business to her home Village, creating group corporations, give advice to fellow entrepreneurs and focus on green sustainable products.

Are there any challenges?

Green entrepreneurships face many challenges such as poor infrastructure, low level of education and skills, as well as limited access to human resources, markets, technology, and services. Dedicated training and education are needed to overcome these barriers.

In Bhutan the government has established a Start-up Center, where entrepreneurs can get help with developing their business ideas and receive mentoring, education, help with network building and exposure.

Is it in fact green?

Very little economic activity can take place without environmental impact. Green entrepreneurs need to include solid life-cycle analysis of their products to avoid adverse effects.