PHNOM PENH, 12 March 2015: Minister of Environment, H.E. Say Samal, who is also the Chair of the National Climate Change Committee, presided over the official launch ceremony for the Cambodia Climate Change Alliance (CCCA) Phase II. A total of 12.3 Million US$ have been allocated to the programme from the European Union (EU), Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support the implementation of the Cambodia Climate Change Strategic Plan 2014-2023 for the period from July 2014 to June 2019.
The programme is administered by UNDP, with the Ministry of Environment through Climate Change Department as implementing agency.
In his welcome remarks, H.E. Say Samal stated “The CCCA has been the flagship programme for the Ministry of Environment since 2010, and continues to play a coordinating role in our response to climate change. CCCA is a concrete example of the inter-ministerial body coordinated by Ministry of Environment to build capacity towards sustainable development across Government ministries and agencies.” He further added “the programme will also put a strong focus on the development of human resources and technologies required for climate change response, through grants for research and partnerships with the education sector.”
The EU, Sida and UNDP are proud to formalize today their continued support to the CCCA. The year of 2015 is a crucial time for the fight against climate change at global, regional and local levels, due to the fact that a new climate agreement is expected in the 21st Conference of the Parties meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change scheduled to take place in Paris in December 2015. In this context, CCCA development partners confirm their joint commitment to support Cambodia in strengthening its institutional capacity to better coordinate effective climate change responses and to ensure strengthened resilience at both national and sub-national levels.
Sweden and UNDP, end of last year, signed an agreement for CCCA Phase II in which Sweden contribution of 3.8 million US$. During today’s official launch ceremony, the EU and UNDP signed a funding agreement for CCCA, for EU contribution of 6 million Euros. Then, the Ministry of Environment and UNDP officially signed an agreement for CCCA Phase II with a total budget of 12.3 million US$, including 1.15 million US$ from UNDP itself.
The programme will support the vision of a green, low-carbon, climate-resilient, equitable, sustainable and knowledge-based society for Cambodia, with three main drivers focusing on: 1) Strengthening the governance of climate change; 2) Orienting public and private, domestic and external resources towards climate-smart investments; and 3) Developing human and technological capital for climate change response.
The ceremony was attended by members of National Climate Change Committee, MoE officials, and representatives of development partners, including EU, UNDP, and Swedish Embassy.
Note to Editor:
The Cambodia Climate Change Alliance (CCCA) Phase I is a comprehensive and innovative approach to address climate change in Cambodia that had been active from 2010-2014 with significant results including the development of the Cambodia Climate Change Strategic Plan 2014-2023 and the corresponding strategic plans and actions plans in nine priority ministries and agencies, the successful operation of a grant facility (20 Government and NGO pilot projects supported in all areas of the climate change response), and increased visibility and knowledge of climate change, through knowledge products and advocacy events. The phase I of CCCA, was supported by EU, UNDP, DANIDA and SIDA with total budget of 10.8 million US$.
For further information, please contact:
- Ministry of Environment: H.E. Sao Sopheap, spokesperson,012 971 222, saosopheap@yahoo.com
- EU: Ms. Poun Pok, Press and Information Officer, 012 347716, Pok.POUN@eeas.europa.eu
- UNDP: Mr. Ker Munthit, Chief of Communications, 015 589 839, munthit.ker@undp.org
- SIDA: Ms. Kristina Kühnel, Head of Development Cooperation Section; 016 881 498, Kristina.kuhnel@gov.se
For Joint Press release: {phocadownload view=file|id=662|target=s}
