Cambodia

Cambodia joined the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) in 2014 and has received funding and technical support from CCAC partners for activities in municipal solid waste, cooling, and national planning. The country has also established a National SLCP Unit in the Department of Air Quality and Noise Management which works to coordinate short-lived climate pollutant (SLCP) mitigation efforts across ministries.  

Cambodia's updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) increases the country’s emissions reduction commitment, setting new and more ambitious targets for multiple sectors. There are detailed mitigation actions for energy, industry, waste, and agriculture, including increasing the amount of waste disposed at landfills, applying landfill gas extraction technology, and building biodigester plants on farms to produce bioenergy.  

The NDC places a strong emphasis on Cambodia’s 2014-2023 Climate Change Strategic Plan (CCCSP) to implement mitigation measures. This comprehensive and cross-sectoral plan addresses national barriers to implementation, such as the country’s current dependence on charcoal for household energy and its vulnerability to air pollution. The plan also sets out a national roadmap with broad strategic objectives for enhancing climate resilience, building capacity, and enhancing collaboration and partnership across government ministries. The development of the CCCSP was also foundational in embedding climate change into Cambodia’s development agenda, as formalized in the 2019-2023 National Strategic Development Plan.   

SLCP emissions from the major emitting sectors are addressed in the five-year sectoral Climate Change Strategic Plan established in 2014. The Climate Change Priorities Action Plan for Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Sector set a priority to enhance livestock manure management and scale up climate-smart agriculture through pilot projects. 

The Climate Change Strategic Plan for Manufacturing Industry and Energy includes a goal to phase down ozone-depleting substances. This plan is targeted at shifting industry and energy provision towards renewable and sustainable sources and promoting energy access and security across the country.  

The Strategic Plan For Climate Change Adaptation And Greenhouse Gas Mitigation In the Transport Sector provides a strategic framework to enhance transportation infrastructure for climate change adaptation, and push for emission standards and public transportation as mitigation measures. This plan includes action to take heavy-duty vehicles off the road and build capacity for more stringent vehicle inspection and maintenance to reduce emissions. 

Public health is a major concern when tackling climate change impacts in Cambodia due to its vulnerability to severe flooding and the impacts of air pollution. The 2019-2023 National Climate Change Action Plan for Public Health is Cambodia’s response to mitigating these risks. This Plan includes mitigation measures and indicators to measure the health impacts of climate change. Read below for more information on sector-specific policies in Cambodia.