• H.E. Sok Buntha, Secretary of State, Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation,

• H.E. HE Pak Sokharavut, Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Environment,

• Representatives from ministries, development partners and civil society,

Good morning, Chom Reap Sour.

We are meeting at a critical time for the global fight against climate change. In January 2025, which marked the 10th anniversary of the Paris agreement, the global temperature surpassed the average target to register an increase of 1.75°C, making it the warmest January on record. This sobering reality calls for urgent acceleration of climate action to achieve what we have committed to.

 The path to achieving climate goals lies in successfully implementing the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The NDCs are the national climate action plans submitted by countries, including Cambodia, to the UNFCCC according to the Paris Agreement. These plans outline how each country intends to reduce domestic greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change, limiting its carbon footprint to ensure global temperature rise is limited to 1.5°C.  These contributions are more than just formal documents - they are our blueprint for building a prosperous, sustainable, healthy and resilient future for people and the planet. 

Since the submission of Cambodia’s first NDC in 2015, the country has made substantial progress in addressing climate change. The NDCs brought a progressively increasing focus on adaptation and a commitment to reducing emissions while promoting long-term economic development, as reconfirmed in key national policies, such as the Pentagonal Strategy, the Long-Term Strategy for Carbon Neutrality, and the Circular Strategy on Environment 2023-2028. This is reflected in the expansion of mitigation activities across critical sectors such as agriculture, waste management, energy, forestry, and land use, as revealed in the NDC 2.0 stocktaking exercise completed in December 2024. 

Excellencies and distinguished guests

Today’s workshop is critical for setting the ambition for the national climate agenda for the next 10 years. The NDC 3.0 is an all-of-society plan. UNDP endeavours to maintain this approach throughout the technical and coordination support extended to the Ministry of Environment, the lead national entity entrusted by the Royal Government to coordinate the NDC 3.0 development.

Today's key focus of our discussions is how social assistance can enhance community resilience, address climate-induced social vulnerabilities, and promote equitable adaptation measures. It is anchored in the National Social Protection Policy Framework 2024-2035 and the pivotal implementation role of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY), in a country such as Cambodia, which is vulnerable to recurring extreme weather events, mainly floods and droughts, climate-sensitive social policies, systems, and programmes are not an option but a must to safeguard people and particularly vulnerable social groups and communities.  

Our discussion today on how social services and social work can support climate action and adaptation as part of NDC 3.0 should be ambitious but also feasible and measurable. Through a collaborative approach, bringing together government ministries, the Climate Change Technical Working Group (CCTWG), UNDP, and other development partners, we will identify SMART targets and measures that will guide our efforts and help us achieve both climate and social resilience goals while building a resilient, low-carbon future for Cambodia.

Excellencies and distinguished guests

            Thanks to the close collaboration of the Royal Government and development partners (GIZ, the World Bank, UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, to name a few), the social protection system was expanded and strengthened during the last few years, through refining targeting methodologies, digital transformation, enhancing delivery methods and diversification of services along a life-cycle approach to support vulnerable households. Climate vulnerability considerations were first included in social assistance in 2022. As such, 493,800 at-risk households affected by flood and inflation received cash transfers and other social benefits in 2022 and 2023.

Excellencies and distinguished guests

I encourage you to think creatively about how social protection can be a potent tool to mitigate climate-induced social vulnerabilities and identify potential partnerships to accelerate resilience and adaptation to climate change.  

In conclusion, I will take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all of you for your active participation, the Ministry of Environment for its diligent coordination and leadership, and the social protection sector partners for their dedication to strengthening inclusion and resilience.  

I wish you a productive meeting.

Thank you. Som Arkun!