Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Ministry identifies pollution reduction actions, strategies

Ministry identifies pollution reduction actions, strategies

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Smoke released from a factory in Phnom Penh. POST STAFF

Ministry identifies pollution reduction actions, strategies

Senior officials from the Ministry of Environment urged sub-national administrations and stakeholders at all levels to pay closer attention to identifying environmental challenges. They should set out action plans to reduce pollution, in order to participate to promoting the well-being of the public.

About 200 representatives from the institutions under the ministry attended an October 19 workshop on “Environmental Protection”.

The workshop aimed to review and discuss measures to address environmental challenges, and suggest future initiatives.

Ministry secretary of state Sao Sopheap said the workshop was held to gather input related to environmental protection ahead of an October 31 meeting, scheduled to discuss the results of the ministry’s work this year and to outline next year’s working direction.

Sopheap added that despite the context of peace, political stability and development in all areas, the associated population expansion in urban areas and rapid socio-economic growth presented many challenges. These included issues relating to environmental quality, the balance of the ecosystem, public health and social welfare.

“Urban areas in large towns are facing an increase in the amount of solid waste created and a decrease in soil and air quality,” he said.

“Noise pollution, traffic congestion, increased demand for energy and a lack of green spaces, require institutions at all levels – as well as private sector development partners – to work together to find solutions,” he added.

Sopheap said the ministry has worked hard to turn challenges into opportunities. It had urged sub-national administrations and institutions to identify challenges and implement strategic plans which would reduce their impact.

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
About 200 representatives from the institutions under the ministry attended an October 19 workshop on “Environmental Protection”. Hong Menea

“To ensure the effective implementation of environmental protection, stakeholders at all levels must focus on identifying issues, and then work together to combat them,” he said.

“The ministry has put action plans and discretionary budgets in place to reduce pollution, protect the quality of the environment and protect public welfare,” he added.

Pak Sokharavuth, director-general of the ministry’s General Department of Environmental Protection, said the department had outlined three areas of focus: monitoring the quality of the environment (water, land and air), pollution control, and assessment of the impact of pollution.

He added that specialists regularly monitored pollution levels in many places, including factories. Data on hazardous waste levels would be compiled for use in setting out what measures needed to be employed.

Siem Reap provincial environment department director Sun Kong said the workshop was important, as it allowed sub-national administrations to address challenges and offer suggestions.

Kong added that Siem Reap was currently facing issues with waste management, as a lack of landfills meant they were unable to meet the demand of a growing urban population.

“We face difficulties dealing with the effective transport and disposal of waste as services have not been expanded to all 12 districts yet,” he said.

“Our landfill is not adequate for the task, but we are discussing establishing a new facility,” he added.

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • 1.4 billion dollar Phnom Penh-Bavet expressway due in four years

    The Government, through the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, has officially signed a public-private partnership agreement with a private company for the construction of a Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway project that will connect the capital to Svay Rieng province. The budget for the project is

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom