Cambodia Holds National Consultations for COP31 Climate Summit

On September 25, 2026, in Phnom Penh, Oxfam organized a national consultation conference in preparation for the upcoming 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Government institutions, civil society organizations, diverse communities, youth, educational institutions, the private sector, United Nations agencies, and development partners convened in Phnom Penh to discuss and identify key climate priorities for Cambodia. This consultation aims to ensure Cambodia's participation in COP31 with an inclusive, evidence-based stance that reflects national development priorities and the realities of communities heavily impacted by climate change. Cambodia has demonstrated strong commitment to climate action, setting an ambitious target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent by 2035 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. However, the article suggests that a climate that is equitable globally should not demand vulnerable countries like Cambodia to increase their ambition while concessional support is reduced after graduating from Least Developed Country (LDC) status. COP31 must provide predictable, grant-based financing that does not increase debt burdens. This is crucial to ensure that graduating from LDC status marks a stride in sustainable development, rather than becoming a factor that exacerbates vulnerability to climate change.