Minister of Environment Say Samal said the impact of climate change will be more serious and long-lasting to the livelihoods of the people and the economy than that caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Samal made the remarks while presiding over the third meeting of the Cambodian Climate Change Alliance – Phase 3 (CCCA3) on May 11, with the attendance of officials from various ministries and development partners such as the EU and UNDP, among others.
Samal – also president of the CCCA3 – said Cambodia had dealt well with the spread of Covid-19 and made a remarkable economic recovery.
“Covid-19 had serious impacts on the economy, but the impacts caused by climate change will be more risky and long lasting for the people and the nation’s development. Social and economic development planning must be mindful of climate change resilience and other risks to health,” he was quoted as saying.
The minister said that to solve the issues of climate change and natural resource management, the focus must be on the family economy, creating market opportunities, and building the rural economy.
Carmen Moreno, head of the UU delegation to Cambodia, appreciated Cambodia’s efforts in dealing with climate change. She also presented the EU programme for 2021-2027 with a total budget of $155 million for three sectors: green development and suitable jobs, education and skills, and good governance.
The meeting also reviewed the achievements made under CCCA3 and planned actions for 2022-2023.
