H.E. Dr. EANG Sophalleth, Minister of the Ministry of Environment

H.E. Igor Driesmans, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Delegation of the European Union 

Excellencies, distinguished guests, and colleagues.

The Cambodia Climate Change Alliance is a success story of collective engagement in climate action, connecting local and global climate agendas and uniting stakeholders from various sectors and walks of life, be it governmental bodies, civil society, academia, and the private sector. Thanks to the leadership of the National Council for Sustainable Development and the Ministry of Environment, we have diligently built together the national climate agenda, fostered strategic partnerships, and advanced implementation, achieving notable results.

At this final event of the Cambodia Climate Change Alliance – Phase 3 (CCCA3), I would like to recognize the European Union and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the main donors for this last phase, for their unwavering support that was instrumental in the success of this transformative initiative. I would also like to acknowledge the United Kingdom which joined efforts to develop the Cambodian Long-Term Strategy for Carbon Neutrality.

Great efforts have been and are being made to accelerate climate action in Cambodia. I am proud of the contributions achieved by national partners, the private sector, academia, youth, civil society, development partners, and UNDP through the CCCA. Let us take a moment to reflect on the milestones achieved by the Cambodia Climate Change Alliance - from laying the groundwork for the national climate agenda - to strengthening institutional capacities, coordination mechanisms, and tools - and to the grant facility that fostered public sector and grassroots innovation.  

During the first phase from 2010 to 2014, the Cambodia Climate Change Alliance raised awareness and laid the foundation for a national climate action agenda, coordinating the development of the first Cambodia Climate Change Strategic Plan 2014-2023 and sectoral action plans by key ministries. It also established the Climate Change Technical Working Group and the Climate Change Grant Facility.

The second phase from 2014-2019 was dedicated to developing the first mitigation commitments, with the Cambodia Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC1.0), to building and developing institutional capacities in sectoral ministries and expanding the grant facility.

The current phase from 2019 to 2024 invested in improving transparency mechanisms, developing the legal and policy framework (such as the Updated Nationally Determined Contribution in 2020 and the Long-Term Strategy for Carbon Neutrality in 2021), securing the engagement of the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Economy and Finance on greening public financial management, and promoting bottom-up innovation through the Grant Facility. 

The impact of the CCCA on communities across Cambodia has been significant. In the three phases, 65 grants for local climate action benefitted over 298,000 individuals, including over 115,000 people in the current third phase, 46% of whom are women. It has demonstrated a commitment to inclusion and sustainability. Capacity development and advocacy have empowered youth, women, and the media to raise awareness of climate change, fostering collective action to address this pressing global challenge with visible, lived, and recurrent local consequences.

Excellencies, distinguished guests, and colleagues.

Although a chapter is being closed, the end of the Cambodia Climate Change Alliance does not mean the end of our support for climate action. I am pleased to confirm UNDP’s commitment to support the Ministry of Environment in the preparation of the next Nationally Determined Contribution, known as NDC3.0. The third round of the NDC represents a pivotal moment since it requires countries to adopt more ambitious targets in line with the 1.5-degree increase limit, promote accelerated progress, and ensure inclusivity in collective efforts to address climate change.

In April 2024, the UN Secretary-General called on UNDP, as the technical lead, to leverage UN System-wide support for the development of the NDC3.0 building on the UNDP Climate Promise infrastructure, launched in 2019 at the UN Climate Action Summit, which supported over 85% of developing countries develop and submit their NDCs. 

UNDP is working out the details with the National Council for Sustainable Development and the Ministry of Environment to prepare the NDC3.0 in time for COP30. It will be structured around three pillars, namely, ambition to enhance the current NDC targets; acceleration to scale-up implementation through international and national finance; and inclusivity ensuring meaningful and long-term engagement of underrepresented actors, including women, Indigenous People, local communities, and youth.

The NDC3.0 is an enormous endeavor; I urge all partners and stakeholders to sustain the momentum gained through the CCCA to support the design and implementation of an ambitious, inclusive, and investable NDC3.0 that responds to the Paris Agreement and supports LDC graduation. 

Excellencies, distinguished guests, and colleagues.

I would like to end by acknowledging and commending the energy and unwavering commitment of the Ministry of Environment, under the leadership of His Excellency Dr. EANG Sophalleth, to climate action and transforming the climate agenda from a liability into an economic driver for reaching Cambodia’s development ambitions, leveraging resources and expertise to achieve a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable Cambodia. 

Thank you/ Saum Orkun.