(Langkawi): Three cities and two districts of Cambodia have received the ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable Cities (ESC) and Certificates of Recognition for Clean Land, Clean Water, and Clean Air, as follows:
1. Siem Reap City, Siem Reap Province – awarded the ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable Cities Award 2025.
2. Preah Sihanouk City, Preah Sihanouk Province – Certificate of Recognition for Circular Economy.
3. Takhmao City, Kandal Province – Certificate of Recognition for Clean Water.
4. Tboung Khmum District, Tboung Khmum Province – Certificate of Recognition for Clean Air.
5. Ponhea Kraek District, Tboung Khmum Province – Certificate of Recognition for Clean Water.
The ASEAN ESC Award and Certificates of Recognition ceremony was held on 3 September 2025 in Langkawi, Malaysia, within the framework of the 18th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment. The event was attended by ASEAN Environment Ministers and delegates, including Cambodia’s delegation led by Eang Sophalleth, Minister of Environment, along with the ASEAN Secretary-General.
Eang Sophalleth highly valued Cambodia’s international achievements, as Cambodian cities and districts received these prestigious awards and recognitions, reflecting the effectiveness of the Royal Government’s strategies and policies. He highlighted in particular the wise, dynamic, and energetic leadership of Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet, together with the implementation of the environmental circular strategy built on three pillars: Clean, Green, and Sustainability.
The minister underlined that in the past two years, the Environmental Circular Strategy has prioritized actions to ensure environmental sustainability and ecological security, addressing climate change and promoting the green economy, aiming for Cambodia’s vision of expanding green cover and becoming carbon-neutral by 2050.
On environmental cleanliness, the Ministry of Environment has launched various campaigns against pollution, focusing on clean land, clean water, and clean air, with the support and participation of government leaders, officials, ministries, provincial and local administrations, armed forces, public institutions, the private sector, civil society, development partners, Cambodian youth, monks, teachers, students, and citizens nationwide — with the shared vision of making homes, communities, and the nation cleaner for the well-being of the people and the environment.
Past campaigns included “Today I Do Not Use Plastic Bags” with over 11 million participants; “Clean Cambodia, Khmers Can Do It” mobilizing over 6 million participants to collect trash and plastic waste nationwide; and the “National Road Without Garbage and Plastic Waste” campaign launched on 1 January 2025 to ensure clean, waste-free national roads.
To ensure clean water, the Ministry has focused on preventing and reducing water pollution from factories and enterprises. The Ministry enforces laws strictly, requiring polluting sources to install and operate wastewater treatment systems and automatic wastewater monitoring equipment.
As of August 2025, 52 factories had signed agreements, with 42 already installing automatic monitoring systems, most of which are located in Kandal Province. Kandal is expected to be declared a model province for implementing wastewater monitoring and control measures for public water areas.
=FRESH NEWS
