PHNOM PENH – Cambodia is preparing to set out ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions ahead of the international COP30 climate conference in Brazil. 

The submission will be across all sectors such as energy, industry, agriculture, forestry and land use and waste, Environment Ministry spokesperson Khvay Atitya says. 

It will be Cambodia’s third generation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0). 

COP30, scheduled from Nov. 10 to 21 in Belem, will bring countries together to show their efforts towards achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. 

“The ministry is currently drafting NDC 3.0 for the 2025-2030 period, while also finalizing the Climate Change Strategic Plan (CCCSP) Phase 2 (2024-2033), which outlines the government’s policies on climate change adaptation and mitigation,” Atitya said. 

“Cambodia submitted NDC 1.0 in 2015 and NDC 2.0 in 2020, with NDC 3.0 set for completion in July.” 

The ministry will develop NDC 3.0 showing the country’s ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors such as energy, industry, agriculture, forestry and land use, and waste.

This year marks the 10th anniversary since the Paris Agreement was established, making it a crucial time in the collective combat of climate change. Countries are expected to submit NDC 3.0, outlining their commitments to reducing emissions and adapting to climate change impacts.

Although the official deadline of Feb. 10 has passed, only 13 out of 195 parties have submitted their NDC 3.0. 

However, the executive director of UN Climate Change Simon Stiell said on Feb. 6 that countries would have additional time to submit high quality and ambitious climate targets by September. 

These targets will be included in a UN assessment of emissions reduction plans, which will inform the COP30 conference.

As of Feb. 10, the countries that have submitted their NDCs to the secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change include Andorra, Brazil, Ecuador, the Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Singapore, St. Lucia, Switzerland, the UAE, the UK, Uruguay, the US and Zimbabwe.

COPs take place annually where countries get together to agree on climate action, including assisting vulnerable people adapt to the effects of climate change, reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, and keeping the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius. 

At the NDC 3.0 inception workshop on Jan. 27, Secretary of State Chuop Paris said the country is highly vulnerable to climate change, which includes rising temperatures, frequent extreme weather events and sea level rises, which pose threats to key sectors such as agriculture, fisheries and tourism. 

“However, the country has demonstrated the capacity to address these impacts by establishing an ambitious climate agenda and key policies,” Paris said. 

In the coming months, government-led technical teams supported by the UNDP, UN agencies, development partners and NGOs will develop practical targets and measures. Consultations will be held at national and sub-national levels before submission.