Cambodia’s four localities receive ASEAN environmental sustainability awards
The Kingdom’s capital and three towns have received ASEAN Environmental Sustainability Cities Awards for 2021. Certificates of recognition for clean land, water or air were presented by the Ministry of Environment at its headquarters on February 25.
“It is the pride of Cambodia. Sihanoukville received ASEAN’s sustainability city award for 2021. Phnom Penh received a certificate recognizing its clean water. Sen Monorom [of Mondulkiri province] received a certificate for its land, while Kep took the award for cleanest air in 2021,” the ministry announced.
Ministry spokesman Neth Pheaktra said at the award ceremony that the government had determined that pursuing green development would be the guiding principle of its socio-economic development plans. These in turn would contribute to sustaining national economic growth, improving the quality of the environment, and reducing poverty.
He added that in order to achieve its mission to ensure clean green cities, the ministry had established a vision with four pillars – institutional modernization; biodiversity conservation and protection of natural resources; environmental protection; and sustainable development – coupled with the safe village-commune policy.
“We have taken a number of measures to reduce environmental pollution, with a focus on the quality of soil, water, and air. They were important indicators in deciding how these awards were apportioned,” the ministry said.
Phnom Penh received the ASEAN city award in 2008 and 2011, with Battambang claiming the title in 2013. Kep took the award in 2017.
“The purpose of these awards and certificates is to raise awareness of sustainable development and encourage cooperation among ASEAN member states to achieve clean green cities,” the ministry added.
It said the awards highlighted the importance of ASEAN cities continuing to develop in a sustainable manner and supported the priorities of strengthening regional capacity in urban planning and building climate-resilient cities.
The awards were held every three years from 2008 to 2017 and every four years since then.
AGENCIES