The Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment (MoE) in Cambodia has successfully concluded a significant environmental campaign, drawing the participation of more than 20,000 individuals and charting a course towards a more sustainable future for Cambodia.
On September 20, in alignment with World Cleanup Day, a seminar titled “Present and Future of Circular Environment in Cambodia” was co-hosted by the Ministry and KOICA in Phnom Penh. This event was a culmination to a rigorous month-long campaign targeting environmental cleanliness and sustainability. The seminar facilitated exchanges between various stakeholders—over 160 individuals from governmental bodies, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and academia—and examined the environmental trajectory of Cambodia.
The Ministry of Environment revealed the existing environmental conditions in Cambodia, unpacking the strategies set forth to ameliorate these issues. Meanwhile, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) outlined their ongoing initiatives to support waste management and to foster a circular economy that could potentially offset many environmental challenges. The Department of Environmental Engineering at the Royal University of Phnom Penh further highlighted the impending challenges and stressed the pivotal role academia must play in face of these challenges.
This gathering was particularly notable for the palpable concern and engagement of the participants. Among them were students from the Royal University of Phnom Penh and the Youth Economic Federation Association, who demonstrated a vested interest in sustainable development. Chuop Paris, the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Environment, called upon citizens to partake in environmental conservation efforts, underlining that the looming challenges demand a collective response and actions geared towards safeguarding the future.
Echoing this sentiment, Choi Moon Jung, Country Director of KOICA Cambodia Office, delineated the aim of the seminar, which was to educate and exchange perspectives on environmental issues. KOICA’s strategy involves empowering people with the belief that they are central to the solution. Reflecting this approach, KOICA has supported the establishment of the Department of Environmental Engineering at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, which is anticipated to be instrumental in cultivating the next generation of problem-solvers in the environmental sector.
An engaging component of the seminar involved showcasing a video clip that reported the outcomes of KOICA’s month-long campaign. The campaign, an extension of MoE’s ‘Clean Cambodia! Khmer Can Do!’ initiative, had been set into motion on August 21 with an event spearheaded by Park Jung-wook, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Cambodia, Eang Sophalleth, Minister of Environment, and Khuong Sreng, the Governor of Phnom Penh City Hall. This event, which began with a waste collection activity along a river, ignited a movement that would see over 700 participants take collective action.
Over the course of the month, this movement manifested itself prominently on social network platforms like Facebook and Instagram, where individuals embraced sustainable practices like reducing, reusing, and recycling plastics in their daily activities—at educational institutions, markets, cafes, and homes. Their experiences and initiatives were well-documented and shared on social media platforms, influencing over 20,000 viewers to witness and consider partaking in these sustainable endeavors.
In reflection of the severe environmental crisis highlighted by the Secretary of State of MoE, the conclusion of KOICA’s campaign with the seminar marks only the beginning of a sustained commitment to environmental preservation. This initiative has demonstrated that with community engagement and collective resolve, there is tremendous potential to tackle environmental challenges head-on. Through the activities shared by the thousands and the enthusiastic participation of the youth, it is clear that there is a growing community ready to take a stand for the environment. The successful seminar and campaign by KOICA are promising indicators of a heightened environmental consciousness in Cambodia and serve as a call to action for all citizens to contribute to a sustainable and cleaner future.
Source: Fresh News
