First National Forum on Climate Change
19 - 21th October 2009
Intercontinental Hotel
Phnom Penh

Opening Remarks by Mr. Jo Scheuer, Country Director, UNDP, on Day Three of the First National Forum on Climate Change

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Excellency Lim Kean Hor, Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology,
Excellencies, honorable guests, ladies and gentlemen,

It is my privilege to be here this morning on the final day of the first National Forum on Climate Change. Today’s discussions focus on a number of crucial cross cutting issues such as sustainable economic growth, effective aid coordination, mainstreaming climate change into planning processes, biodiversity conservation and gender. Before the day draws to a close, we will have the opportunity to reflect on Cambodia’s road map for the Conference of Parties talks in Copenhagen in December.

I would like to focus on the first two - sustainable economic growth and aid coordination - before briefly touching on biodiversity and gender.

Is it possible to address climate change and ensure sustainable economic growth at the same time?

I believe the simple answer is yes.

As we heard yesterday, climate change impacts every sector of society and every sector of society contributes to climate change. Hence, many countries have already embarked on the transformation of their entire economies to create low-carbon development pathways. Such a new development paradigm creates opportunities for sustainable economic growth. 

Cambodia can choose a similar path through accessing different sources of finance and transfer of technologies – both international and national, public and private - to build on and sustain its impressive economic performance of the past. Cambodia could become a model economy that has a minimal output of (GHG) emissions and has reduced climate change risks through appropriate adaptation measures that protect economic growth.

Both the private sector and government need to work together to integrate energy efficiency into business policies and investment plans. The private sector should play a lead role in taking ownership of this. In return, companies stand to benefit from international carbon trading.

Introducing environmentally responsible measures will produce benefits for ordinary Cambodians. Some low carbon economy initiatives that could be expanded to benefit rural Cambodians include: eco-tourism; sustainable use of non-timber forest products; agro-forestry; waste management; biogasifiers; biodigesters; renewable energy, improved cook stoves and solar lights to name just a few.

I would like to offer another suggestion. Cambodia could develop a “green, carbon neutral city” – a path many cities around the world have embarked on.

For example, if tourism were the main industry of this “green city”, then hotels, travel agents and airlines could commit to reducing their emissions through alternative sources of energy. Remaining emissions could be offset through appropriate local schemes. Infrastructure could be specifically designed to minimize climate change impacts. Environmentally friendly practices such as public transport, traffic-free zones, and tree planting could be introduced.
 
Siem Reap could be a good candidate to launch a “Green City” initiative that over time would also increase its attraction as a tourist center. It may sound like an unachievable dream to make a city of 100,000 inhabitants – the country’s second largest economic hub – ‘’a green city’’. I think it is possible.

We can develop an integrated city plan combining both climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. We can promote energy efficiency in hotels and restaurants. We can equip every hospital, school and pagoda with solar panels and solar water heaters. We can promote the use of improved cook stoves and water filters in the city and suburbs. We can educate students, urban residents and hotel staff about energy saving techniques. We can build disaster resistant and mitigating infrastructure that would reduce the impacts of floods, as seen recently following cyclone Ketsana.

Siem Reap, as a “green city”, would not just be a tourist destination due to its precious historical and cultural significance, but also for its appeal as a model city with a low-carbon foot print.

But efforts like this cannot be achieved by the government alone. They require the full commitment and support of development partners, civil society and the private sector. Good coordination leads to optimum aid effectiveness, and this brings me to my next point – aid coordination.

In order to reduce gaps and limit overlap, it is crucial that we carefully align the work we do with the government’s development priorities, as outlined in the National Adaptation Programme of Action on Climate Change (NAPA) and the National Communications prepared for the Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC).

It is possible that substantial additional resources can become available to Cambodia to address climate change adaptation and mitigation. Therefore, it is crucial that coordination and information sharing mechanisms are robust enough to ensure an efficient and effective national response.

The National Climate Change Committee and development partners have already begun to outline a common approach for coordination and aid effectiveness for climate change. This shows that there is a clear commitment by the community of development partners to follow aid effectiveness and partnership principles.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen

I would like now to briefly touch on the crosscutting issue of biodiversity. The links between biodiversity and climate change run both ways: biodiversity is threatened by climate change, but the proper management of biodiversity and ecosystems can provide ecosystem services that can contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Cambodian forests, if well protected, will provide a significant opportunity for carbon trading through the anticipated REDD initiative (Reduction of Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation). This encourages countries not to cut down forests but to gain benefits from preserving them by claiming carbon credits. It could be a very important source of revenue and the catalyst to transform the forestry sector in Cambodia. In addition, intact ecosystems provide services such as water resource management, coastal protection, prevention of erosion, ecotourism and alternative livelihoods and will also function as sanctuaries for endangered flora and fauna. All this will contribute to a sustainable growth path.

Finally, I would like to look at climate change through the gender lens. There is a threat that climate change effects will expand existing patterns of inequality, particularly gender inequality. It is well known that climate change most severely impacts the poor, disproportionately affecting their livelihoods and security. Among these, the majority are women. As a result, they are most likely to bear a heavy burden.

Yet, they can also be positive agents of change and crucial contributors to livelihood adaptation strategies. If women have the opportunity to actively participate in the solutions we discuss in this forum, they will be better prepared to manage their own livelihoods and contribute to those of their families and communities.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

Climate change is not just an environment issue.  It is a development issue. UNDP views climate change through the lens of poverty reduction and human development.  The support of the international community and the UN must be guided by a vision of inclusive and sustainable development. Cambodia can lead the way in building a green, low-carbon economy.

This may be the last day of the forum, but this event marks the beginning of our joint work to harness the opportunities of a low-carbon economy and reduce the vulnerabilities presented by the real impact of climate change. I encourage all of you to keep this dialogue alive in the lead up to the 15th Conference of Parties in Copenhagen and beyond. I hope to have the opportunity to interact further with all of you on the next steps and I wish you a successful day.

Thank you for your attention