Tshering Tobgay is a politician, environmentalist, and cultural advocate, the leader of the People's Democratic Party, who was also the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly from 2008 to 2013. Between 2013 and 2018, he was the Prime Minister of Bhutan. He promotes the implementation of the Gross National Happiness and highlights problems that need to be addressed, such as youth unemployment, corruption, and national debt. He also concentrates on stopping corruption in Bhutan's government.
Quite surprisingly, Tshering received a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh's Swanson School of Engineering after obtaining a scholarship from the United Nations. Then he completed a master's degree in public administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Prior to engaging in politics, he was a civil servant, and became the first official to resign from his work to take part in his country's transition to a parliamentary democracy in 2008.
He has been a guest speaker at several TED conferences, bringing up the impacts of global warming, Bhutan's pledge to remain carbon neutral as well as the country's mission to put happiness before economic growth, and setting a world standard for environmental preservation.
In 2014, the King of Bhutan presented Tshering with the Lungmar Scarf for his efforts in the well-being of the nation while being Prime Minister of Bhutan. Since leaving office, Tshering has continued his environmental work. In his free time, he is a fitness enthusiast, an avid cyclist, a yoga practitioner, and also arts and culture lover and supporter.
Tshering Tobgay – An urgent call to protect the world's "Third Pole"
