LocationsClean Energy Week 2024: Showcasing Cambodia’s Progress and Ambition in Action
November 4, 2024
Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Today, Cambodia, Australia, and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) representatives launched Cambodia’s largest clean energy event, Clean Energy Week (CEW) 2024.
Under the theme “Ambition in Action: Cambodia’s Clean Energy Future”, the week-long series of events, discussions, and exhibitions will showcase Cambodia’s growing leadership in clean energy innovation, economic growth, and the fight against climate change.
This year’s Clean Energy Week arrives at a pivotal moment for Cambodia, as clean energy has become a national priority under the leadership of Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet and the Royal Government of Cambodia’s 7th mandate.
Through forward-thinking policies and strategic investments, Cambodia is laying the foundation for a more sustainable and prosperous future.
Speaking on the importance of this progress, Australian Ambassador to Cambodia noted,
“Australia is proud to be a founding partner of Clean Energy Week, supporting the event since it first started in 2018. At that time, the challenges of harnessing clean energy in Southeast Asia’s future felt immense. But today, clean energy is not just a topic of discussion but a central pillar of Cambodia’s vision for economic growth, energy security, and environmental stewardship.”
Clean energy is being built around the world at an unprecedented rate. In 2023, the world achieved the fastest rate of renewable deployment on record - doubling global renewable capacity while global sales of electric cars also increased by 35% to around 14 million.
This has been driven by significant falls in the cost of wind, solar, batteries and EVs over the last decade.
Cambodia is extremely well positioned to take advantage of this momentum, with at least 65 GW of solar potential and 5 GW of wind potential. Through policies such as doubling the nation’s solar power ambitions, the cancellation of the coal power project in Koh Kong and the launch of Cambodia's Electric Vehicle Roadmap, the country is positioned to be a clean energy leader.
“Cambodia’s commitment to build solar, wind and electric vehicles demonstrates a clear dedication to reducing Cambodia’s reliance on fossil fuels and tackling climate change,” says EnergyLab Country Director Natharoun Ngo Son.
“The next challenge is to ensure we maximise the benefits of the shift towards renewable energy for Cambodia - making sure we create thousands of jobs, support local businesses and make sure the voices of the community are heard as projects are developed.”
Clean Energy Week 2024 will supercharge this progress, allowing stakeholders to share new ideas, discuss policy solutions and forge partnerships. The week’s program will focus on the critical issues in Cambodia’s clean energy transition, such as improving energy access, driving economic growth, and achieving national climate targets.
The centrepiece of the week is the Clean Energy Summit (October 31st - November 1st at Sofitel Phnom Penh), which gathered policymakers, industry leaders, financial institutions and international partners for strategic discussions that will shape Cambodia’s clean energy future.
UNDP Resident Representative Ms Alissar Chaker said, “Embracing clean energy is not just an ideological position. It is a driver for energy security, trade dividends and green jobs creation, access to green financing, and reducing pollution. Development partners play a crucial role in supporting Cambodia’s clean energy ambitions and in transforming them to reality. It is with this intention that UNDP has been supporting Clean Energy Week since its inception in 2018 as a founding partner.”
As Clean Energy Week 2024 unfolds, it will continue to put Cambodia on the regional map as a leader in clean energy. With continued support from international partners such as Australia, which has provided both technical expertise and financial assistance, Cambodia is poised to transform its energy landscape in a way that benefits not just the country but the entire region.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Vipheavy Nhean, Communications and Outreach Manager
Ms. Chhunmuoy Ath, UNDP Communications Analyst
About Clean Energy Week:
Clean Energy Week is Cambodia’s premier event focused on advancing clean energy solutions. Now in its 7th edition, CEW serves as a platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and policy development aimed at accelerating the clean energy transition in Cambodia. It is organised by EnergyLab Cambodia, in partnership with the Ministry of Mines and Energy, and in collaboration with co-founders, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the United Nations Development Program; in addition to co-funders, CAPRED and New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
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