PHNOM PENH: The Ministry of Environment has called for renewed joint commitments to mobilise resources and technology to strengthen preparedness and coordinated responses to plastic waste, climate change and the potentially severe impacts of the El Niño phenomenon.
Environment minister Eang Sophalleth made the appeal during a meeting with Rebekah Bell, UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative in Cambodia, on Monday (Nov 2).
The minister stressed the need to continue mobilising resources and technology to implement plans to protect natural protected areas, safeguard ecosystems and promote sustainable livelihoods for local communities.
Sophalleth outlined plans to mobilise stakeholder participation, and also proposed establishing a platform for discussion and joint preparedness and response to future disasters, bringing together all relevant stakeholders from the public and private sectors, as well as domestic and international partners.
He also noted that the ministry is considering stricter measures and public awareness campaigns to advise local authorities and communities to exercise greater caution when using fire. The measures are intended to prevent forest fires linked to rising temperatures and El Niño.
It also plans to strengthen the protection of natural water sources in protected areas to ensure that wildlife has access to sufficient water.
In a separate same-day meeting with Silke Röfer, German ambassador to Cambodia, Sophalleth discussed similar challenges.
The minister outlined the Kingdom’s preparedness and emergency response plans, including ensuring clean water supplies for communities living near protected areas, maintaining stable water sources for wildlife and introducing measures to prevent forest fires associated with rising temperatures. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
