Cambodia's Ministry of Environment and UNDP Pledge to Strengthen Partnership for Environmental Protection

The Ministry of Environment and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Cambodia have pledged to strengthen their partnership for long-term and robust cooperation in environmental protection and natural resource management. This commitment was made on August 31, 2026. The forum reflected Cambodia's dedication to implementing its environmental diplomacy strategy, which aligns with the key agendas of the Cambodian government's 'Pentagonal Strategy' Phase I and the Environmental Sector 'Chakra Strategy'. Mr. Enrico Gaveglia, UNDP Resident Representative for Cambodia, emphasized the importance of cooperation in environmental protection, green development, and responding to climate change. He further stated that UNDP is highly committed to supporting Cambodia's programs and investments to drive environmentally sustainable development. On this occasion, H.E. Dr. Eang Sophalleth, Minister of Environment, expressed gratitude for UNDP's contributions to sustainable development in Cambodia. He highly valued the dialogue, calling it a pioneering initiative to build a stronger partnership between the Ministry of Environment and UNDP within a comprehensive, long-term strategy, accelerating the transition from policy to concrete action for environmental sustainability, natural resource management, climate change, and sustainable development. "Together, we will transform Cambodia's environmental and climate commitments into tangible investments and lasting results for our people, nature, and future generations," H.E. Dr. Eang Sophalleth stated. Through this strategic partnership, the Ministry of Environment and UNDP Cambodia are driving the implementation of key national environmental priorities under the 'Pentagonal Strategy' Phase I, the Environmental Sector 'Chakra Strategy' 2023-2028, Cambodia's first Climate Change Strategic Plan (CCCSP 2014-2023) and its second phase (CCCSP 2024-2033), as well as contributions based on national commitments to updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 2.0 and NDC 3.0). These efforts contribute to enhancing environmental sustainability, sustainable livelihoods, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and inclusive socio-economic development. Currently, the Ministry of Environment and UNDP Cambodia are implementing 15 ongoing projects, covering a wide range of thematic areas including climate change, National Adaptation Plan (NAP), biodiversity conservation, protected area management, sustainable landscape management, circular economy and waste management, chemical management, forest and ecosystem restoration, carbon markets (Article 6), environmental governance, nature-based solutions, sustainable finance, and the implementation of various international environmental conventions. Looking ahead, 20 projects/initiatives are in progress between the Ministry of Environment and UNDP, with a total budget of approximately USD 47.25 million. This includes approximately USD 40.04 million that has been supported or contracted since July 2025. During the forum, the Ministry of Environment plans to submit specific proposals to UNDP to mobilize support for priority environmental and climate programs within the framework of cooperation for the coming years.