Royal Government Of Cambodia

KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA
3 Nation, Religion, King
ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF CAMBODIA
CAMBODIA CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGIC PLAN 2014 – 2023
2013 National Climate Change Committee

Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia

MESSAGE

Climate change has become one of the greatest risks facing humanity and a high priority of global concern in the 21st Century. As the earth continues to heat up, the severity of climate change impacts on global socio-economic development and environmental sustainability continue to intensify and amplify, prompting the need to seek urgent solutions.

Southeast Asia continues to face increasing threats from climate change, with increasing loss of human lives and significant damage to economic development and natural resources. We have all observed the alarming trends of more frequent and intensified floods, droughts, saline intrusion and extreme weather events, especially over the last decade. Research and study have indicated this trend is projected to further increase by the end of this century. Therefore, climate change has become a primary issue, requiring urgent attention in designing appropriate climate change policies, strategies and actions as responses at the global, regional, national and sub-national levels.

Having ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1996, Cambodia has actively participated with the international community in the effort to address climate-related issues. However, the country remains highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to its high dependency on climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, water resources, forestry, fisheries, tourism, etc., which form the critical foundation of its economic growth and support the livelihoods of a great majority of its population. It is

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important to note that Cambodia has enjoyed stable macro-economic performance for the last several years, as indicated by the steady growth in GDP, rising household income, and reduced poverty rate. Retaining this robust growth performance under a changing climate will be a real challenge in the years to come. Response efforts to address climate change cannot be separated from economic development and poverty alleviation, which are vital in a transition towards a green economy and low-carbon, climate-resilient development.
In this regard, it is my great honour and pleasure on behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia to announce the official promulgation of the Cambodia Climate Change Strategic Plan 2014 – 2023 (CCCSP). This is the first ever comprehensive national policy document responding to the climate change issues our nation is facing. The CCCSP has reflected our political will, our firm commitment and readiness for reducing climate change impacts on national development, and contributing, with the international community, to global efforts for mitigating GHG emissions under the UNFCCC.
Integration of climate change into national and sub-national level planning, and the development of climate change strategies, action plans and financing frameworks are among the priority actions undertaken as defined in the National Strategic Development Plan Update 2009 – 2013. The development of the CCCSP is a significant step towards embedding climate change in the NSDP 2014 – 2018 and in sector development plans of all relevant ministries. The CCCSP will guide national entities and assist non-governmental organizations and development partners in developing concrete and appropriate measures and actions related to adaptation and GHG mitigation, which are the supportive pillars for the achievement of the Rectangular Strategy and Cambodia Millennium Development Goals.
I must stress that the CCCSP captures the main strategic objectives and directions, leveraging sustainable development goals for us to pursue for the next 10 years. As a dynamic policy instrument, it will be periodically evaluated, revised and improved in order for it to be able to respond effectively to evolving situations in the future. I strongly believe that more practical solutions and best practices will be learned to guide national capacity building during the

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course of its implementation. It is our goal to promote Cambodian society towards a green, low carbon and climate resilient economy.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the National Climate Change Committee (NCCC) and its members, all the participating line ministries, development partners, non-governmental organizations, and all of you who have contributed to making this CCCSP possible.
Our ability to address climate impacts on national development processes will be enhanced by coordinated efforts to reduce the vulnerability of people and natural systems that support livelihoods and drive national economic growth and prosperity. The National Climate Change Committee and its Secretariat have a very important role to play in coordinating Cambodia’s climate change responses, strengthening partnerships with various stakeholders, and monitoring the implementation of this strategic plan.
Once again, I urge all stakeholders from the Government, private sector, national and international non-governmental organizations and development partners to continue their close cooperation with the NCCC in the implementation of climate change responses, in particular the CCCSP, which would contribute to the development of Cambodia towards a green, low carbon, climate resilient, equitable and sustainable society.
Phnom Penh, 31 October 2013
HUN SEN

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Preface
On behalf of the National Climate Change Committee and the Ministry of Environment, I would like to express my profound respect and sincere gratitude to Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, for his full support and strong commitment to addressing climate change, which is faced by the country in the national development process. The National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) Update 2009 – 2013 identified key priority actions to be undertaken in response to climate change impacts that have negative implications on national development efforts. On this basis, climate change is considered as a cross-cutting issue in the planning process of the NSDP 2014 – 2018. In this context, I am proud to see the CCCSP developed under the auspices of the NCCC. The CCCSP is the first comprehensive strategic document ever developed under the charismatic leadership of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
I would like to express gratitude and appreciation to Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen from line ministries and agencies, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and development partners, for the good cooperation in the development and materialization of the CCCSP.
Recent findings presented in the Second National Communication to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have concluded that changes in temperature and rainfall in Cambodia have already started since the second half of the 20th Century. The projection for the next eighty years further concludes that future temperatures in Cambodia will continue to rise, with potential declines in dry season rainfall, and delayed arrival of the wet season regardless of the potential increase in wet season rainfall. The change may vary in accordance with greenhouse gas (GHG) emission scenarios.
Climate change is a real challenge for our country, as we all have witnessed more frequent and intense extreme climate events such as floods, droughts, increased storm surges, etc., and the

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significant physical and monetary damage they cause to the country’s economy and livelihoods. In order to ensure sustainable development in the context of climate change Cambodia has worked out practical solutions to cope with the rapidly changing climate by putting in place new policies, strategies and plans. The CCCSP is prepared following the guidelines of the Council of Ministers and is consistent with the planning cycle of the NSDP. Line ministries have provided inputs to the development of the CCCSP and also have developed Sectoral Climate Change Action Plans, which would become policy programmes for integration of climate change at national and sub-national levels.
The development of the CCCSP is based on a broad and inclusive consultation process to ensure consensus, comprehensiveness and ownership of the product by relevant stakeholders. Building synergy with existing government policy documents such as the NSDP, Rectangular Strategy, National Policy on Green Growth and sectoral development plans, the CCCSP is designed to ensure its strategic cohesion to address a wide range of climate change issues concerning adaptation, GHG mitigation, and low-carbon development. Much emphasis is put on building institutional capacity and science-based knowledge for projection of climate change impacts, adaptation and disaster risk reduction, as these would have immediate far-reaching implications on vulnerable sectors such as agriculture, water resources, forestry, fisheries and tourism. The CCCSP also envisages building resilience capacity and production skills, especially at the community level, to effectively overcome climate change impacts.
Cambodia is rich in water and renewable energy resources where much of it remains untapped. Improved access to food, water and energy, together with the promotion of low-carbon development through a combination of technology transfer, legal reform and fiscal incentives, are regarded as appropriate solutions to sustainable development in the context of climate change. The Second National Communication provides a good analysis of renewable energy options, energy efficiency and GHG mitigation potential, which will inform specific actions and viable investments.

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Mobilization of funding resources for the implementation of climate-related programmes and projects in specific locations of high climate risks is also critical to achieve the goals and objectives of the CCCSP. Integration of the CCCSP into the NSDP and sectoral plans would bring about multiple benefits in terms of knowledge and capacity enhancement for climate change planning, improved stakeholder participation, coordination of funding flow, and systematic monitoring and evaluation of climate change related policy responses. The CCCSP will create an enabling environment conducive to success.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation to line ministries and agencies, development partners and experts for their valuable inputs, assistance and active participation in the development process of the CCCSP in a timely and effective manner.
Phnom Penh, 30 October 2013
Say Samal

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