Environment minister Eang Sophalleth addresses the launch of the Climate Change Strategic Plan 2024–2033” (CCCSP 2024–2033) on May 22. Environment ministry
The Ministry of Environment officially launched the Cambodia “Climate Change Strategic Plan 2024–2033” (CCCSP 2024–2033) on May 22, which it said will serve as a critical roadmap to guide the Kingdom towards achieving its climate vision.
The launch was presided over by environment minister and chair of the National Council for Sustainable Development Eang Sophalleth, EU ambassador to Cambodia Igor Driesmans and Alissar Chaker, UNDP resident representative in Cambodia.
Sum Thy, director-general of the ministry’s General Directorate of Policy and Strategy, presented an overview of the CCCSP 2024–2033 during the opening session. He highlighted the strategic outcomes of the plan, which focuses on greenhouse gas mitigation, strengthening adaptation capacities to climate change, and promoting good governance and digital transformation.
Cambodia is among the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, which threaten key economic sectors. A joint study by the environment ministry and the Ministry of Economy and Finance forecasts that, without action, climate change could reduce Cambodia’s GDP by 2.5% by 2030 and 9.8% by 2050.
Chaker described the CCCSP 2024–2033 as “not just a policy document but a shared roadmap toward Cambodia’s climate vision of carbon neutrality and climate resilience through sustainable and current development”.
“Our shared objective is to ground Cambodia’s prosperity in green and sustainable growth that leaves no one behind, considers the voices and the needs of all and addresses vulnerabilities, enhancing the resilience of particularly those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change,” she said.
Driesmans reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Cambodia through the third phase of the Cambodia Climate Change Alliance (CCCA) programme, providing technical assistance, policy development and stakeholder engagement.
He noted that the EU Global Gateway offers Cambodia a unique opportunity to mobilise substantial climate investments to support its vision of becoming a carbon neutrality country by 2050. By leveraging innovative financial instruments such as blended finance and risk-sharing mechanisms, they aim to unlock significant green capital from European companies and investors.
“Our goal is to catalyse sustainable projects in renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture and resilient infrastructure — creating new opportunities for economic growth, job creation and environmental protection,” he shared.
In his opening remarks, Sophalleth emphasised the strategic importance of the CCCSP 2024–2033 in supporting the implementation of the first phase of Cambodia’s Pentagonal Strategy and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
He stressed the need to strengthen the capacity of the National Council for Sustainable Development, enabling it to become a nationally accredited entity to directly access financing from the Green Climate Fund.
“The CCCSP is a national framework. It is not solely the responsibility of the ministry, and I call for collective action across all sectors to translate strategic objectives into tangible outcomes,” he said.
He identified key sectors — energy, industrial processing and product use, forestry and other land use, agriculture and waste management — as primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions requiring immediate mitigation actions.
He also extended his profound gratitude to Prime Minister Hun Manet for his endorsement of the CCCSP. He described this endorsement as reflecting the government's unwavering commitment to addressing climate change and ensuring a sustainable future for all Cambodians.
