PHNOM PENH: The World Bank Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific for Sustainable Development, Benoît Bosquet, has praised the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen related to the handling of climate change in Cambodia, especially in regard to the official launch of Cambodia's carbon-neutral long-term development strategy.

On Monday, 21 March, Benoît Bosquet met with the Minister of Environment, Say Samal, at the Ministry to discuss work.

During the meeting, the World Bank Regional Director expressed his appreciation for the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen on climate change, especially the official launch of the long-term development strategy for a carbon neutral Cambodia. The Kingdom has been consistently implementing its commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The Minister of Environment warmly welcomed the World Bank Regional Director and his accompanying World Bank delegation. The Minister also stated that the complete peace and economic growth in the last 20 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen has brought political stability and development in all areas of the country, including higher living standards and a protection of people's well-being across Cambodia. The most recent example has been the implementation of a nationwide vaccination campaign against Covid-19, which has helped to protect people's lives and control the spread of the virus.

Cambodia has recently expressed its willingness to take the lead as ASEAN Chair and a member of the United Nations, officially launching a carbon neutral long-term development strategy with a 2050 target for zero emissions, and a strategy of supporting multilateralism.

The Ministry of Environment and the World Bank continue to focus on promoting solid waste management, ecotourism and carbon credit markets to improve community livelihoods and the local economy.