Phnom Penh, Cambodia – 3 May 2023 – The Ministry of Environment (MoE) and Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) jointly celebrate the 10th anniversary of collaboration and achievements for advancing green growth in Cambodia.
The celebration of the green partnership—Green Growth Night—was presided by H.E. Tin Ponlok, Secretary of State, MoE, and Second Vice President of the National Council for Sustainable Development (NCSD), representing H.E. Say Samal, Minister of the Ministry of Environment and President of NCSD, and Dr. Frank Rijsberman, Director-General of GGGI. Joining the celebration were line ministries, development partners and private sector partners, approximately 100 participants in total, who have been playing a significant role in sustainable development. This celebration is also to strengthen the collaboration between line ministries, organizations and development partners as well as to exchange views on green growth opportunities in Cambodia.
GGGI has been operating in Cambodia for 10 years since Cambodia’s membership agreement with GGGI in 2013. Hosted by the MoE, GGGI has been pioneering and championing green growth in Cambodia with a focus on sustainable green cities development. Among many achievements, MoE and GGGI have incorporated green growth priorities into national strategies and policies such as Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), the ambitious Cambodia’s Long-Term Strategy for Carbon Neutrality (LTS4CN), National Strategic Plan on Green Growth 2013-2030, the recently adopted National Energy Efficiency Policy 2021-2030, and other key documents for the sustainable city development including Phnom Penh Sustainable City Plan 2018-2030 with 48 prioritized green investment projects and Sustainable City Strategic Plan for 7 Secondary Cities 2020-2030. Simultaneously, GGGI has been involved in the promotion of sustainable energy consumption, sustainable waste management, electric transportation, and green financing. For green investment mobilization, GGGI has laid the foundation through in-depth research and technical analysis. Since its inception, GGGI has raised nearly US $ 20 million to implement the use of solar rooftop solar systems in garment factories, waste processing plants in Phnom Penh and decentralized liquid waste treatment systems in Bavet city. To date, potential investment projects include: electric buses, green cards by sector and capital for energy efficiency up to $ 80 million.
“GGGI’s work is in line with the Kingdom of Cambodia’s long-term strategies to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and the goal of Cambodia’s contribution to the implementation of national obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (NDC). Recognizing the need for transition to greener development, the Kingdom of Cambodia through MoE has embraced cooperation with GGGI in establishing major policies for green growth and in mobilizing green investment for sustainable urban development in the area of sustainable energy, waste management and sustainable mobility. Recently, we are also happy to accelerate innovative green financing for the private sector in partnership with GGGI’’ H.E. Tin Ponlok, Secretary of State, MoE, and Second Vice President of NCSD said.
‘’As a founding member of GGGI, Cambodia has been a driving force behind the establishment and growth for GGGI. Through the cooperation with the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia for a decade, we have made a direct contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, creating green jobs and promoting sustainable urban service.” Dr. Rijsberman, Director General of GGGI noted. “Cambodia is leading in the area of sustainable development by setting ambitious targets on national contribution to the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (NDC). I am here to ensure GGGI’s continued commitment to supporting Cambodia in achieving the international commitments as well as enhancing climate resilience through innovative policy and financial instruments.” Dr. Rijsberman added.
It should also be noted that GGGI’s five-year work plan framework (2021-2025) in Cambodia focuses on four priority areas, including: (1) green industry and green buildings (2) sustainable solid-liquid waste management (3) sustainable transportation and (4) the provision of green innovation financing, including carbon financing and green bonds by sectors, with the aim to support sustainable development in Cambodia as well as contribute to the implementation of national obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.