Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) have pledged to expand their strategic cooperation aimed at strengthening natural resource management and community resilience against climate impacts.
The agreement was highlighted during a meeting between Cambodian Environment Minister H.E. Dr. Eang Sophalleth and outgoing FAO Representative to Cambodia Ms. Rebekah Bell at the ministry’s headquarters on Monday afternoon.
During the farewell meeting, Ms. Bell reviewed key milestones achieved through the FAO-Cambodia partnership. She emphasised joint initiatives focused on climate change mitigation, forest restoration, and building climate-resilient livelihoods for local rural communities.
Ms. Bell also expressed full support for Cambodia’s Environmental Circular Strategy, praising its actionable framework to foster a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future for the nation.
In response, Minister H.E. Dr. Eang Sophalleth commended FAO’s role as a vital strategic partner while cautioning against impending environmental threats. He singled out plastic waste pollution, climate volatility, and severe risks associated with the upcoming El Niño phenomenon as immediate challenges facing both Cambodia and the global community.
To mitigate these threats, the Minister stressed the urgency of mobilising international resources and advanced technologies to safeguard protected ecosystems while elevating community livelihoods. He outlined clear plans for stakeholder mobilisation, emergency preparedness, and immediate intervention protocols.
Furthermore, H.E. Dr. Eang Sophalleth proposed establishing a multi-stakeholder forum bringing together Royal Government bodies, private sector entities, and national and international partners to formulate joint response mechanisms for climate-induced disasters.
As part of immediate preventive actions, the Ministry of Environment is reinforcing strict regulations and issuing operational guidelines to local authorities and communities. Measures include heightened vigilance against forest fires driven by global warming and El Niño, alongside active preservation of natural water reservoirs within protected areas to ensure water security for local wildlife.
