Ancient Angkor Empire’s Fall Affects from Climate Change

By Chhorng Long Heng

“The climate change is one of the core things which weakened the civilization of the ancient Angkor Empire,” H.E. Khieu Kanharith, information minister and government spokesman said during the workshop reporting on reducing disasters and risks and mitigation from climate change late last week.

“According to a study from the history of the Angkor Empire, affects from the long drought at that time, as the country needed water for supplying the rice crops as the main product for the sustenance of the Angkor city, is also the biggest issue if comparing to other countries on the earth at that time,” the Minister added. 

“Some said its fall occurred from religious conflicts and Thai attacks, but drought is a new discovery,” he added.

“The impact from climate change is a big issue and we could not assess it, therefore, we need to prepare and contribute to this work.”

“A recent study suggests that two severe droughts, punctuated by bouts of heavy monsoon rain, may have weakened the Angkor Empire by shrinking water supplies for drinking and agriculture, and by damaging the Empire’s vast irrigation system, which was central to its economy. The kingdom is thought to have collapsed in 1431 after raids from Siam,” the report from the UNDP said.  UNDP quoted from a study by Buckley and Cook in 2010.

“The empire was already facing numerous social, political and cultural problems. These were exacerbated by a drought thought to have lasted 30 years, putting pressure on the complex system of irrigation reservoirs, canals and embankments,” it added.   It is thought that this led to crop failures and the spread of infectious diseases, undermining the empire’s ability to feed its large population.

“The problem of droughts was compounded by intense rainy seasons during some years. Usually heavy rains after periods of drought caused the siltation of the irrigation infrastructure, further undermining the vitality of the water management on which Angkor had depended.”   

The report said: “The affects of changes in climate are not new for Cambodia. Indeed, recent historical analysts suggest that the collapse of the mighty Angkor Empire that stretched across much of mainland Southeast Asia was partly attributable to shifts in climate patterns. The kinds of climate shifts that influenced Cambodia during the Angkor period were part of natural climatic cycles and variation.”

However, the climate change that the country now faces is of a very different order.

It added: “The scientific evidence demonstrates that what we now know as climate change is the result of man-made actions related to the industrialization, deforestation and land use patterns which have resulted in excessive emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) into the earth’s atmosphere. Moreover, the climate change that what we are witnessing is of a pace and magnitude that the world has never before experienced, and the changes are beginning to appear irreversible.

“Yet for Cambodia, many aspects remain remarkably similar to the Angkor period: the central importance of water resource management for national development, and the dependence of the population on agriculture, fisheries and natural resources,” according to the report from UNDP.

Budget Project for climate change

Climate change projects currently being implemented in Cambodia include:  NAPA follow up project on climate – resilience water management, and agriculture practice in rural Cambodia, which is funded by GEF, UNDP and the government with a budget of US$ 3.09 million.

Pilot project for climate change resilience is funded by WB and ADB with a total budget of US$ 105 million of which US $50 million comes from grants and US$ 55 million in soft loans. CCCA (Cambodian Climate Change Alliance) is being implemented by the Ministry of Environment and funded by EU, UNDP SIDA, and Danida for an approximate amount of US$ 9 million.

National REDD roadmap is being funded by WB, UNDP, FAO, and UNEP with over US$ 6 million committed and it is expected to reach more than US$ 10 million. Vulnerability assessment and adaptation programs for climate change within the coastal zone of Cambodia, which is considered necessary for livelihood improvements and the ecosystem, is being funded by UNEP for US$ 1.6 million.  Helping address rural vulnerability and ecosystem stability (HARVEST) is being funded by USIAD, and will support natural resources management, forestry and climate change from 2011-2015.  Cambodia and other LDCs have argued that at least 70 per cent of future climate change fund allocation should be directed to LDCs for building adaptive capacity and facilitating adaptation, including the current commitment of US$ 30 billion through 2012, and the future commitment of US $100 billion per year.

According to the latest technical assessment by the Ministry of Environment, in 2010, Cambodia’s temperature has risen steadily over the past 50 years. The country can expect further increases in temperature during the course of this century, with an acceleration expected after 2030. As the number of studies covering Cambodia indicate greatly varying degrees, depending on the model used, and the level of anticipated Green House Gas (GHG) emission factors in as well.

Assessments by two general circulation models indicate that, under the high emissions scenario, the rate of temperature will be at least 2 Celsius and possibly as high as 2.5 Celsius, by the end of the century.  Other studies suggest temperature will increase from 0.7 Celsius to 2.7 Celsius by the 2060s.   It clearly demonstrates that temperature in the country has risen steadily over the last 50 years and that “rapid increase in temperature is expected to occur after 2030,” according to a report from the Ministry of Environment.  Rainfall patterns are also shifting. At the same time, predicted changes for the future also need to be considered alongside more recent changes.

Floods and Disasters

Although floods are usually disastrous for humans, they may have beneficial effects too, including improving soil moisture and fertility for agriculture, ground and surface water recharging and ecological benefits for fisheries, according to a report from UNDP.  Nonetheless, one of the worst floods in Cambodia’s recent history occurred in 2000. The national committee for disaster management estimated that 750,618 families, representing 3,448, 624 people who were affected. Among these, 85,000 families (387,000 people) were temporarily evacuated from their homes and villages with 347 deaths (80 per cent of which were children). “Damage to infrastructure alone, not including lost production and other secondary impact costs was estimated at US$ 150 million.”

“Socioeconomic development and natural resources management have directly affected human vulnerabilities to flooding. Unplanned patterns of human settlement and land use have resulted in dramatic increases in the population living in the Mekong floodplains.”

 “The implication of the changing disaster risk profile for Cambodia are found not only at the level of impact on affected people, but more broadly, at the level of national and local economic costs. Between 1987 and 2007 alone, the total cost of floods has been estimated at US$ 327.1 million, with US$ 138 million in damages caused by drought.” It added:  “As technologies improve and international finance mechanisms are put in place, countries such as Cambodia may be better placed to adopt low carbon technologies at relatively early stages of their national economic development.”

Source: The Southeast Asia Weekly, September 11-17, 2011, Vol. Issue 37, Page 1

Kuwait to Invest on Mining and Rice Mill in Cambodia

By Sok Lak

A largest Kuwait company, Pima international has joined hands with Cambodia Company, D&D Pattaik Group, to form a company named PIMA-D&D International to boost the investment in Cambodia on mining and rice mills.

By taking this step, they will invest 45 million dollars to operate Gold and Iron Ore Mines as well as rice mill in Cambodia, the company announced late last week.

“The company has been obtained the approval from the Royal Government of Cambodia for exploring mines and looking at taking over existing mines as it will operate in this September with an initial investment of about US$10 to US$15 million to acquire mining right in Cambodia and set up office in the capital city,” Dr. Raja said at a briefing at the Phnom Penh International Airport on September 8 after his delegation’s plane touched down at the airport.

The company will search mine exploration opportunities in three provinces: Kampong Chhang, Kratie and Mondulkiri. “We will be the first Middle Eastern company to open in Cambodia for the Mining Industry, he said. “Other Mining activities will be rolled out in stages, looking at viability and feasibility of the mines, and subsequent expansion will be done in accordant to Government Mining Stipulation’s,” he stressed.

Mr. Dibyendu Pattnaik, Chairman of D&D Pattnaik group, said that the JV company will bring in more investment in the Mining sector along with PIMA international while it will always keep in mind the need to save the environment and will comply to environment regulations when exploiting the mines on commercial basis.

Mr. Debasish Pattnaik, Vice- Chairman and CEO of D&D Pattnaik group, said: “The group is now looking at investment in the mining sector, which is unknown territory as yet, but it is not looking at making a profit in the near future.” However, the mission of the company will provide ample employment opportunity to the people in Cambodia and also contribute from its profit to the social responsibility of the company.”

Besides on investment on mining, PIMA-D&D International Company also plans to set up rice mill in Cambodia with capital of US$10 to 15 million dollars. “The rice mall will equip personnel with modern technology from Japan and set up in two provinces: Takeo and Prey Veng province,” he said, adding that, “We will bring new technology from Japan while the plan is in processing.”

Dr. Raja stressed that as Cambodia is an agriculture country, the government has a policy to promote rice export, and it has made his company interested in investing on rice production to export.

Kong Putheara, Director of Statistics Department for Ministry of Commerce, said that the setting up of rice mill by Kuwaiti businessman will highly contribute rice productivity and engage government to export rice to international market and encourage Cambodian farmers to increase rice productivity and also help to achieve the export goal in 2015.

This is the second time of Dr. Raja visiting Cambodia while his first visit to Cambodia occured on August 1, 2011 to study and looking for investment opportunity. This time, he brought three business partners who come from America, South Africa and United Kingdom. While he visited Cambodia, he also promised to provide job opportunity to Cambodia, also build one hospital to ensure the health of the Cambodia people.

Source: The Southeast Asia Weekly, September 11-17, 2011, Vol. Issue 37, Page 3

Cambodia to Export Rice to United Arab Emirates

By Sok Lak

Cambodian rice is except to export to United Arab Emirates at the end of this year after the Cambodia’s rice exporters participate into Rice International Conference and Exhibition (RICE) 2011, which held on November, 3-5, 2011 in Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“There are at least 15 Cambodian rice exporters and producers from four big companies in Cambodia planning to attend rice exhibition in Dubai.  It is a good opportunity for Cambodia to display Cambodian rice products in order to seek for market as well as investors to invest in Cambodia rice field for export to UAE,” Senior Minister H.E. Cham Prasidh, Minister of Commerce, said in a press conference on September 5^th at Ministry of Commerce.

“UAE could be a main potential market for Cambodian rice in the future after EU and China while Cambodia used to exporting rice to Africa at amount of around 240 tons a year,” he said.

“The expo will help the Middle East to know about Cambodian rice products and we expect to find some business from UAE this year.” It is the first time for Cambodia to go to UAE to study their market and seek for rice export. “I hope that next year, there will have a lot of Cambodian companies seeking for more market there.”

Mr. Faisal Ali Mousa, Chairman of the Ideal Idea Events of RICE said, United Arab Emirates is a re-exported rice country. “In 2009, United Arab Emirates spent around US$ 15 billion to buy rice from 52 countries around the world, but there is nothing Cambodia,” he said. “This exhibition will allow Cambodia to display Cambodian rice and seek to market rice in Middle East.”

The expo will be jointly by many countries around the world such as Italy, Pakistan, Brazil, Thailand, Vietnam, Agentina, and India. After the expo, the minister expects to sign contact or agreement with UAE while Arab business people and investors are looking for new investment and products.

“I believe this exhibition will be a very good platform for Cambodia’s exporter, producer and businessman to see our investors to exchange information then raise agreement,” Mr. Mousa stressed. “Cambodia’s rice is good quality and in high demand, but it went to Thailand and Vietnam under their name, so it needs proper marketing and need more capital with new cultivating technology to make exporting to UAE more sustainable.”

“While UAE as re-export area, process million tons of rice, the area is very active in exportation,” he mentioned.

He hoped that next year, there will be a big number of Cambodian rice exporter to join RICE exhibition.

In the first semester of the year, the Cambodia rice export volume reached US$ 45.6 million and about 100,000 tons of milled rice product were export. The government of Cambodia plan to achieve paddy surplus of more than 4 million tons of rice products and export around 1 million tons of rice products by 2015 as stated in the government’s policy.

In Cambodia, agriculture is a major sector to Cambodia’s socio-economic development, which contributes nearly 33 percent to the GDP of the country. 85 percent of the population lives in rural areas and agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for the rural poor while paddy production represents the important of food sector in country

They planted rice paddy for over 2.3 million hectares in country. Nowadays, Cambodia has over 3,000 kinds of paddy with the stability and less dependence on natural changes because of the advances in irrigation scheme and application of agricultural technologies.

In the last decade, Cambodia has been successful with rice production which producing 7.58 million tons in 2009, of which the country has another surplus of about 3.5 million tons for export. Cambodia’s rice cultivated area could be expanded up to 3.5 million hectares from 2.6 million hectares of cultivated land. The country is trying to boost the potential of the harvest of 12.25 million tons of rice.

The Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) has planned a number of programs and activities to increase rice production to make Cambodia one of the major rice exporting countries in the near future. But the climate is the core thing as most the rice fields are still dependent on rainfall from nature. To address the climate change problem, Cambodia needs to increase its adaptive capacity to climate change and develop more climate resiliency programs.

Source: The Southeast Asia Weekly, September 11-17, 2011, Vol. Issue 37, Page 3

Cambodia’s Urban Population Reaches to 21 Percent

By Sok Lak

“Cambodian People live in the urban areas continue to develop while the urban population reach from 19.5 percent in 2008 to 21 percent currently,” the planning minister announced late last week.

H.E. Chhay Than, Minister of Ministry of Planning, said that urban residents in Cambodia are increasing year to year from 19.5 percent to 21 percent. If comparing with other countries in region, urban people in the country are lower than before, minister sale, adding that 60 percent of the population in Malaysia live is urban areas and 100 percent for Singapore.

 According to estimation of the reporter from United Nation (UN), one third of of total population of the Southeast Asia area living in towns and the figure will rise up to 50 percent in 2020. In order to manage towns and cities, Cambodia government divides whole country into 23 provinces with one capital, Phnom Penh, which has eight districts. Currently, the country is divided into 26 cities in 23 provinces, 1417 communes and 159 districts. There are 204 communes in Phnom Penh.

14,119 villages are covered in the administrative system in the country. Beside Phnom Penh, three are cities: Poipet (Banteay Meanchey), Suong (Kampong Cham) and Bavet (Svay Rieng).

“The primary reason that people move from rural areas to city is to seek for income. Even though health and study are also factors, but economic factor is dominant,” H.E. Chhay Than said, adding that nowadays, Cambodia’s urban population is still increasing, but the country face urbanization and inadequate infrastructure because the basic infrastructure cannot keep up lifestyle of people. The environment also will be affected and caused social problem, Minister noted.

“In general, the different between town and rural areas are age at marriage, mortality rate, literacy rate, number of school enrolment, clean water system and other factors,” he said.

Currently, there are 26 cities while some districts ranked as town because there was already re-classification in 2004, so town population through censure 2008 is 23 percent. If the calculation based on this method used for study in 2004 is correct, there are three elements to keep track of: (1) density of district which has more than 200 people; (2) the percentage of men involve into agriculture field less than 50 percent, and (3) the total population in district is more than 2,000, the urban population is up to 21 percent. Moreover, if the calculation adding population numbers based on the sub-decree with three elements above, the urban population is reach up to 25 percent.

Source: The Southeast Asia Weekly, September 11-17, 2011, Vol. Issue 37, Page 5

Multimodal Transport Operation will implement in ASEAN countries in 2012

By Sok Lak

In 2012, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar will begin to implement a multimodal transport operations project to strengthen the ASEAN regional cross-border transport corridors and promoting regional and transport development toward ASEA community integration in 2015, senior officials said this week.

The ASEAN Framework Agreement on Multimodal Transport, initiative for ASEAN integration which is one of the multimodal transport operations project jointly by the five countries including Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar will implement in 2012-2013 to develop multimodal transport co-operation in regional, H.E. Leng Thun Yuthea, Undersecretary of Ministry of Public Work and Transport, said that at the national workshop which launched by Ministry of Public Work and Transport and the Marine Department of Thailand on September 5-9.

“The current era is the time of high competitive transportation industry while shippers want a cheap and smoothly facilitated transport product without barriers,” H.E. Leng Thun Yuthea said at the workshop. “Cambodia is a member of ASEAN currently increasing transportation capacity to improve competitiveness in the ASEAN market as well as international market,” H.E. Leng Thun Yuthea added.

Preecha Phetwong, Deputy Director General of Marine Department, said that Thailand attaches great importance to the initiative for ASEAN integration of multimodal transport operations under the cooperation project to promote economic and trade cooperation in ASEAN to be more rapid development.

According to World Bank report, the import cost in Cambodia was US$736 in 2006 and then went down to US$732 in 2009, but the import cost in Thailand was US$848 in 2006 and went down highly to US$625. However, the export cost in Cambodia is US$816 in 2006 and US$872 in 2009 while Thailand’s export cost is US$ 1042 in 2006 and only US$ 795 in 2009.

Source: The Southeast Asia Weekly, September 11-17, 2011, Vol. Issue 37, Page 2

Angkor Beer Support Cambodian Athletes for 26th SEA Games

By Sok Lak

Toward upcoming 26^th SEA Games in November this year, private partners stand out to help to inspires Cambodian national athletes through offering cash awards for them to achieve great result for the country.

On August 8, Cambrew Company known as Angkor Beer signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) to promise award US$3,000 for individual athletes who win goal and US5,000 for group who win a goal medal while award US$500 for individual and US$1,000 who win a silver medal.

Under the witness of H.E. Thong Khon, Minister of Ministry of Tourism and President of NOCC, he expresses his welcome to private partners for their cooperation and contribution on sport field to promote the development of the nation.

During the ceremony, H.E. Thong Khon, said that in encouragement for athletes to get more medals, the Royal Government of Cambodia through the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport will hands over cash award with US$6,000 to an athlete who wins the goal medal, US$4,000 and US2,000 respectively to athletes who achieve silver and bronze medals.

“Addition on government awards, two private companies also come to sponsor Cambodian athletes,,” he stressed.

Mr. Say Sana Phommasy, Director of Cambrew Company, said that company support for Cambodia’s athletes to encourage them to have confident to win champion for the country and the Cambodian people. “Cambrew always support you, Cambodian athletes,” he emphasized.

There are 163 Cambodian athletes including 28 females from 20 federations with 67 delegates and coach to attend 26^th SEA Games in Indonesia. In 25^th SEA Games, Cambodia won three goal medals, 19 silver medals and 18 bronze medals.

Inflation Will Go Down Later this year, Economy Minister Said

By Sok Lak

The consumer price increased by a total of 7.1 percent in June 2011 compares to last year the same prior. The Ministry of Economy and Finance expected that the inflation would go down to 6.5 percent at the end of this year under its strict measure to deal with the problem.

“I expect that inflation will go down to 6.5 percent at the end of this year while the inflation remains 7.1 percent in this month,” H.E. Keat Chhon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, told media after climate change workshop on August 30. “The past few months are the season when inflation used to be high at the group of food and goods of consumer in cities, he emphasized.

“However, the increasing price of latex or rubber, rice, and cassava in rural area is the benefit of local producers, because earn more from that yield,” the minister said, adding that to response the increasing of inflation, the Ministry of Economy and Finance is try to control the price. He added: “We keep it from increasing so fast because these increasing prices of food and goods for local consumers will affect the price of exporting, especially the increasing price of gasoline,” he stressed. “All governments around the world cannot avoid the increasing price of gasoline, so all people in country need to deal with problem especially rural areas, where there is a need to expand agricultural productivity and growth of yields so that most of the people will not be easily affected by inflation.”

According to report from the institution of Statistic showed that the main groups to increase the inflation rate are the group of food and no alcoholic beverages, alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics, clothing and footwear, transport, restaurants, and miscellaneous goods and services.

The report said that the total consumer price increased by 7.1 percent from June 2010 to June 2011 while 4.4 percent units were due to increased by 8.9 percent for food and non-alcoholic beverages. Among them, price for meat increased by 13.9 percent which contributed by 1.5 percent units, price for pocks increased by 16.8 percent which contributed by 1.1 percent units.

Moreover, the price for beef increased by 11.7 percent which contributed by 0.3 percent units, price for seafood increase by 11.7 percent which contributed by 1.1 percent units, price for fresh increased by 11.8 percent which contributed by 0.9 percent units, price for oils and fats increased by 9.3 percent which contributed by 0.9 percent units, price for gas increase 20 percent which contributed by 0.6 percent unit, price for restaurant increased by 10.9 percent which contributed by 0.8 percent unit, price for gasoline increased by 16.4 percent which contributed by 0.7 percent units. The price of gasoline in the country is up or down depending on the oil price at international markets. But it is a bit strange for oil and gasoline prices to behave this way in Cambodia, where local consumers always complain about it.

Usually, when gasoline price at international markets go down, local oil distributors never dropped its costs on time due to citing that they brought it with high prices, so they need to sell at a high price too. In contact, they will increase price of gasoline on time while it is up at the international market. Currently, the price of gasoline is worth about US$ 1.3 per liter, Commerce Minister, H.E. Cham Prasidh, said recently that Cambodia’s economic growth will be at 8 per cent this year. The economic growth of Cambodia depends on four pillars-garment and textiles, tourism, construction and agriculture in the previous years. The agricultural field is the greatest potential for the country, while plans to export one million tons of milled rice product by 2015.

Source: The Southeast Asia Weekly, September 4-10, 2011, Vol 5, Issue 36, Page 6

Cambodia, U.S. Strengthen Military Cooperation

By Sok Lak

Cambodia’s Secretary of State for Ministry of National Defense (MoND), Neang Phat have meeting on August 29 with Brigadier General Richard Simcock, Principal Director for South and Southeast Asia in the Office of the Secretary of Defense discuss on the further development of bilateral military cooperation between United State and Cambodia.

During the meeting, H.E. Neang Phat, said that the visiting of General Richard is very important as it reflects United State attaches important on Cambodia relation and promote the development of bilateral cooperation between both countries.

He stressed that under the two year support from United States (U.S.), Cambodia is success on multinational peacekeeping exercises. “It reflected the development of Cambodia-United State military cooperation is moving forward.”

H.E. Neang Phat believes that U.S. will support Cambodia which to be chair of ASEAN and ASEAN Summit in 2012 and he also believe that U.S. still be counterpart with ASEAN in Minister meeting in Indonesia this year to further promote defense cooperation ties of U.S. and ASEAN.

To reply, Simcock said that U.S. Support Cambodia who will be chairman of ASEAN in 2012.

The visiting this time is to further the development of Cambodia-U.S. Military cooperation to maintain regional and international peace and stability, he added.

U.S. will continue to support Cambodia’s regular army in order to maintain peace, safeguarding security and counter-terrorism capabilities.

Discussions also focused on opportunities for future cooperation in the areas of peacekeeping, maritime security, humanitarian assistance, defense reform, and counter-terrorism. General Simcock underscored the Department of Defense’s continued commitment to working with the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) to develop a professional force that contributes to regional and international peace and stability.

“The U.S. Department of Defense looks forward to assisting in building up the professional capacity of the RCAF while encouraging the RCAF to continue on a path of improved transparency and respect for human rights and the rule of law,” stated General Simcock.

While the visiting of General Simcock, he participated in a MoND workshop in Sihanoukville to discuss the development of Cambodia’s maritime security strategy. He also visited sites that have benefitted from U.S.-Cambodian defense cooperation, specifically the National Counter-Terrorism Special Force, Peacekeeping Training Center, and Maritime Security Operations Center.

Source: The Southeast Asia Weekly, September 4-10, 2011, Vol 5, Issue 36, Page 4

Climate Change Affects on Livelihoods for Rural People

By Sok Lak

The Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Economy and Finance and United Stated Development Program (UNDP) in collaborated to launch the 2011 Cambodia Human Development Report (CHDR) on August 30 which identifies climate change as a threat to human development gains and a source of increasing vulnerability for the poor. 

“Building Resiliency-the Future of Rural Livelihood in the Face of Climate Change,” which is the first-ever Cambodia human development report on climate change brought about enormous benefits to Cambodia as it detailed information about the current situation of climate and its impact on Cambodia especially country’s rural population who are the most vulnerable in facing climate change and strive to improve their livelihood to deal with those problems.

Speaking at the ceremony, H.E. Keat Chhon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, said that in the face of the global climate change Cambodia has set climate change task as a national priority in the current National Strategic Development Plan 2009-2013. “The priority should be giving to the development of human resources and institution, research, the applying of appropriate technology and financing issue aiming at strengthening the capacity to effectively respond to the climate change,” minister said. “It needs to be done particularly in the sectors that are backbone of national economy such as agriculture, water resources, fisheries, forestry, energy and physical infrastructure,” he minister added.

H.E. Mok Maret, Minister of Environment, said that responding to climate change, it needs to reform some sector which increase people’s capacity to solve problem by themselves such as reform throughout decentralization, reform information system, climate prediction, reform rural infrastructure, select best crop, and increase capacity of research knowledge. He added that government agencies, non-governmental organizations and private sector with the support of development partners can ensure the success of climate change response in Cambodia.

Douglas Broderick, UNDP Cambodia Resident Representative, said that climate change is fundamentally a development challenge and highly vulnerable to climate change impact. “This vulnerability does not necessarily come from high exposure, but rather from low adapting and coping capacities. These capacities can and should be strengthen, not only as part of a broader national response to the manifestations of climate change, but also to enhance the country’s ability to respond to all natural disasters and to lessen their impact on the poor and the near poor.”

The report from the ceremony said that although climate change is often considered an environmental issue, its effects will take a toll on human development gains. Shorter and more interns rainy seasons combined with longer and dry reasons are expected to significantly alter the country’s agriculture landscape. Predicted rises in temperature could have devastating effects on the rice crops on which many rural livelihoods rely.

Dealing with climate change marks a new paradigm for development, and the report’s recommendations emphasize the need to address the structural dimensions of poverty and vulnerability rather solely focusing on climate change adaptation. The report also argues for a well coordinated effort to build climate resilience among the rural population, particular in four key areas: water resources, agriculture, forest and fisheries.

The report also said new natural phenomenon such as slow rainfall in 2010 shows us that the rural livelihoods strongly depends on the rainfall dropping on time and when the rainy season is beginning slower than normal causing the level of Tonlesap and Mekong River to be lower should alert public to start paying attention to climate change. Local farmers also lost their agricultural crops from the Ketsana storm in September in 2009. The storm was a tragedy for local farmers and it is a strange one because climate change can be blamed for potential catastrophes.

“For the past 30 years, the ecology in Cambodia rapidly changed, the report said, adding that the change of temperature on the earth and the change of ecology at the local community level will make temperatures in the future change differently from the current climate situation.

Generally, the change in climate has been blamed on population growth, and on high demands of natural resources for heavy industry, and deforestation, smoke from heavy industry and transportation.

Source: The Southeast Asia Weekly, September 4-10, 2011, Vol 5, Issue 36, Page 6