H.E. Dr. EANG Sophalleth, Minister of the Ministry of Environment
Ambassador Igor Driesmans, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Delegation of the European Union to the Kingdom of Cambodia 
My fellow UN colleague, Dr. Will Parks, Representative UNICEF Cambodia
H.E. Dr. Chuop Paris, Secretary of State, MoE, and Chair of the Climate Change Technical Working Group
 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen! 
Good morning, Chum Reap Sour!

I am delighted to participate in today’s event to discuss and validate the Cambodia Climate Change Strategic Plan 2024 – 2033 and to engage in stakeholders’ consultation on the implementation of Cambodia’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This event is timely as we approach the completion of the Cambodia Climate Change Alliance (CCCA) Phase 3 programme. We are pleased that the CCCA has provided a platform for multi-stakeholder coordination and collaboration to support the Royal Government of Cambodia’s efforts to address climate change challenges.

The Cambodia Climate Change Alliance supports the Government’s initiatives to tackle climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance national resilience. Its interventions extend beyond policy support, helping to build institutions and systems for implementing priority strategies, facilitating inter-ministerial coordination, and tracking progress.

I would also like to underscore the importance of this afternoon's session, where the annual progress of NDC 2.0 implementation will be presented and discussed. This progress has been made possible through collaboration across line ministries, which have updated their 2023 data in online tools for tracking progress against the NDCs and the Government’s Long-Term Strategy for Carbon Neutrality. All this work has been coordinated through the CCCA programme.

As we start the development of NDC 3.0, the CCCA is supporting the NDC stocktake exercise which is also linked to Cambodia’s Biennial Transparency Report (BTR). This stocktake will provide invaluable insights into the implementation status of NDC 2.0 and identify areas for improvement. Special emphasis will be placed on assessing the integration of youth, gender, and social inclusion into implementation efforts, thereby guiding the roadmap for developing NDC 3.0. The UN Secretary-General has assigned UNDP to guide UN-wide support for developing more ambitious NDC 3.0, and I am happy to share that we are already working closely with the Ministry of Environment on this process.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we celebrate our achievements, we must acknowledge that our work is far from complete. Continued support is needed to accelerate the implementation of the climate change agenda, mobilize financial resources, increase knowledge and awareness, strengthen capacities, and enhance collaboration across key stakeholders. Aligning and leveraging public and private financing around climate change issues is crucial. To continue these efforts, I am pleased to share that we are developing the next generation of CCCA, which will build on its achievements and lessons learned.

UNDP has been a proud partner of the Ministry of Environment in implementing climate change actions. Through strategic initiatives and comprehensive programmes like the Cambodia Climate Change Alliance (CCCA), UNDP has facilitated the creation and implementation of critical policies, provided technical expertise, and mobilized financial resources. This collaboration has strengthened institutional capacities, promoted inter-ministerial coordination, and enhanced data-driven decision-making. All this would not have been possible without the support of our national counterparts especially the Ministry of Environment. I thank H. E Eang Sophalleth for his leadership and his capable team for their commitment and partnership with us. I also thank the European Union for being a long-standing partner of the CCCA and all other development partners for their contributions to our collective cause. I am hopeful that our partnership with the European Union and other development partners will continue in the next iteration of CCCA.

Thank you / Saum Orkun.