Cambodia approves $690 million plan to reduce land fires by 2035
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The Cambodian Ministry of Environment approved an investment framework to reduce land and forest fires and eliminate harmful open burning by 2035.
Environment minister Eang Sophalleth authorized the Investment Framework for Haze-Free Sustainable Land Management 2026-2035 to improve air quality and climate resilience. The plan identifies 15 projects with a combined value of approximately $690 million. The ministry intends to fund these initiatives through a mix of public budgets, concessional climate finance, commercial lending, and carbon or nature-based finance.
These efforts aim to address seasonal haze in the Greater Mekong Subregion, which often results from burning agricultural waste, forest fires, and waste disposal. The framework translates regional goals from the ASEAN Investment Framework for Haze-Free Sustainable Land Management 2023-2030 into national actions. It supports Cambodia's commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change and the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.
The ministry developed the roadmap with the UK Mission to ASEAN through the ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund, alongside technical support from the Global Environment Centre and the Global Green Growth Institute. The ministry is currently seeking funding from international financial institutions, development agencies, and private-sector investors to implement the projects. The government views the plan as an investment opportunity to create more resilient livelihoods while strengthening public-private partnerships and regional monitoring systems.
