Cambodia has announced the launch of the “Blue Skies and Net Zero 2050” campaign”, making the Kingdom the first Southeast Asia member of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) to support the global initiative.
The Ministry of Environment launched the campaign on November 15, with the support of the French Development Agency (AFD) and Oxfam in Cambodia, according to a joint press release by the ministry and its partners.
The release explained that the global initiative aims to increase awareness of Cambodia’s climate actions and build support to achieve a net zero emissions goal by 2050.
Minister of Environment Eang Sophalleth addressed the launch event, noting that it creates an excellent platform for engaging all stakeholders, especially the youth, in raising awareness of climate change and building the Kingdom’s resilience.
“I am committed to promoting the clean, green and sustainable development of Cambodia and this campaign is in line with our vision,” Sophalleth said.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of climate actions that align with the priorities of the government, as laid out in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and Long-Term Strategy for Carbon Neutrality (LTS4CN), as well as other national policies and targets.
It was first launched by the GGGI and the Climate Change Centre of South Korea in 2020, and will serve as a platform that brings together government institutions, civil society groups, youth groups, and the private sector to enhance and build vital public awareness of air pollution, while promoting Cambodia’s commitment to carbon neutrality.
Sophoan Phean, Oxfam national director, applauded Cambodia’s commitment to the “Blue Skies and Net Zero 2050” campaign. She believed that by endorsing this global initiative, the Kingdom is taking a significant step towards addressing climate change and building a sustainable future.
“This commitment can only be achieved by concerted efforts from all actors and the critical importance of having communities who are most impacted by the climate change and youth to be part of the actions,” she said.
“We are proud to be part of this launch event, and we look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders to promote inclusive and equitable climate action, particularly in vulnerable communities,” she added.
Sandrine Boucher, country director for AFD, said that with years of experience in air quality and having witnessed the global impacts of air pollution, AFD is committed to sharing its technical expertise with Cambodia to help the country combat the increasingly negative effects of air pollution.
“We are excited to see this initiative being kicked off in Cambodia,” she continued.
“We are pleased to witness the enthusiasm among government stakeholders, development partners, private sector and the youth, all coming together in one place to collectively discuss and debate on the progress and reflection of Cambodia’s journey toward achieving net zero emissions by 2050,” added Shomi Kim, GGGI country representative in Cambodia.