Phnom Penh (FN), Dec. 22 – The Cambodia Climate Change Summit 2023 (CCCS23) report, released in the wake of the largest and most diverse annual gathering on climate change in Cambodia, provides critical insight into cross-sector climate change action in the country.
The report, organised by the Mekong Future Initiative (MFI) and presented by the Ministry of Environment (MOE), is a detailed compilation of climate change issues and interventions in Cambodia, with write-ups on 25 climate change topics and insights from more than 90 public, private and third sector actors.
Event organiser and MFI Director General, Allen Dodgson Tan, said "We are thrilled with the overwhelming response and diverse participation at the Cambodia Climate Change Summit 2023. The record-breaking attendance of over 330 individuals, with a strong representation from the youth, underscores the collective commitment to addressing climate change here. Together, we are paving the way for a cleaner and greener Cambodia.”
This year's report reflects that the new MOE administration, under Eang Sophalleth, has made significant commitments to furthering green diplomacy, mitigating climate change and promoting a clean energy future.
It covers climate financing, renewable energy, energy entrepreneurship, nature-based solutions, water security, innovation in agriculture, sustainable tourism, sustainable solutions, green business, energy efficiency, REDD+ and regulatory compliance.
Contributors include representatives from the MOE, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Mekong Strategic Capital, the National Bank of Cambodia, Foreign Trade Bank of Cambodia and foreign embassies.
As an official partner for CCCS23, Australia played a pivotal role in supporting the summit through its flagship economic development program, the Cambodia Australia Partnership for Resilient Economic Development (CAPRED).
Australian Charge d'affaires Andreas Zurbrugg said, “the summit provided a critical and dynamic platform to gather leading thinkers, decision makers and implementers around the country’s pressing climate change issues. The report, a testament to the collective efforts of stakeholders across sectors, provides valuable insights on Cambodia’s climate action. Australia, through CAPRED, is proud to have supported this crucial event, and we remain committed to working with Cambodia in building a resilient and low-carbon economy. Together, we can foster a cleaner, greener, and more prosperous Cambodia for all.”
Additional support came from the United States Agency for International Development as a founding partner, and from gold sponsor the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation as host of the Sustainable Solutions Expo—a summit-first that allowed attendees to engage with businesses and organisations leading innovative climate change projects.
Oxfam, Kosher Climate and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations further bolstered the summit’s impact as silver sponsors, as well as Heineken and Forte Insurance as bronze sponsors.
Eang Sophalleth, Minister of Environment, lauded the event's significance, emphasising the gravity of climate change and the potential catastrophic effects if immediate action is not taken. U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia W. Patrick Murphy and Australian Ambassador to Cambodia Justin Whyatt also highlighted the event’s importance in the lead-up to the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28).
MFI Chairman Neak Okhna Sear Rithy stated that the summit underscored the shared understanding that addressing the challenge of climate change is inseparable from the future of the children, the nation, and the world.
The CCCS23 report is a testament to Cambodia's commitment to combating climate change, providing a roadmap for sustainable development and inspiring global cooperation.
=FRESH NEWS
