Environment minister Eang Sophalleth (left) shakes hands with Swiss ambassador Pedro Zwahlen for talks on forest restoration and climate change combat on October 10. MOE
The Swiss embassy and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) pledged their support for Cambodia’s reforestation and climate change initiatives. The information comes after they held separate courtesy calls with Minister of Environment Eang Sophalleth on October 10.
Swiss ambassador Pedro Zwahlen expressed his government’s commitment to collaborate with the ministry, according to an embassy social media post.
“The Swiss government fully supports the contribution of climate change management and natural resources, ensuring the ministry achieves a clean, green and sustainable environment for Cambodia,” Zwahlen was quotes as saying.
He added that Switzerland aims to aid Cambodia in attaining its 60 per cent forest cover goal by 2050, as outlined in the government’s Pentagonal Strategy.
Shimako Takahashi, evaluation specialist and team leader at ADB, lauded the ministry’s efforts, particularly regarding climate change mitigation.
“The ADB is dedicated to partnering with Cambodia’s environment ministry to address climate change,” he stated.
In his conversation with Zwahlen, Sophalleth highlighted the ministry’s October 10 launch of a campaign to plant at least one million trees. This initiative, aimed at restoring forest cover, is the ministry’s second-highest priority.
He also expressed gratitude towards the ADB for its focus on climate change, recognising it as a pressing global concern. Detailing the ministry’s strategy, he mentioned three top priorities: solid waste management, restoration of green forest cover and championing these initiatives internationally.
To further tackle climate change, he emphasised the importance of reducing plastic use, especially among the youth. This, he believes, would culminate in a community devoid of plastic waste pollution, preserving Cambodia’s natural resources.
In a previous statement, the ministry highlighted its ongoing efforts to reform institutional structures and working conditions, modernise administration and financial management, and decentralise power to sub-national administrations.
The efforts align with the Kingdom’s broader vision to achieve high-middle-income status by 2030 and ascend to a high-income nation by 2050.
