Senior officials from the Environment Ministry have called on the developed world to provide more assistance in the battle against climate change, which they said Cambodia is working hard to address.

Environment Minister Say Sam Al said that Cambodia has adopted a host of strategies to address climate change, while demanding that developed countries take a level of responsibility in line with their culpability.

“Industrialised countries have to establish clearer leadership because, proportionally, they have played a huge part in causing climate change,” he said.

However, while officials lauded the government’s achievements, independent observers called on them to do more.

Among them was NGO Forum executive director Tek Vannara, who suggested greater effort should be put into promoting the likes of energy saving, while recognising the plight of communities dependant on the nation’s dwindling forests and fish stocks is also critical.

“[Those communities] could help preserve and protect forestry resources to a greater degree, with forests able to play a key part in absorbing carbon,” he said.