Cambodia Plans to End Slums

Why this is here: Cambodia became the first Asian country to approve a carbon neutrality strategy with a target date of 2050.

Say Sam Al, Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister, announced plans to eliminate informal settlements and slums while speaking at the World Urban Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan. He connected this goal to Cambodia’s recent economic growth and its rise to middle-income status over the last decade.

The Cambodian government is also focusing on diversifying the economy and building digital infrastructure. Improvements to waste management, public transport, and mortgage access are all part of this broader effort. Say Sam Al also noted Cambodia approved a carbon neutrality strategy for 2050.

He expressed thanks to Azerbaijan and UN-Habitat for hosting the forum. While Cambodia aims for significant change, the country still faces challenges related to drug abuse and its relatively small contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions remains a factor. Work continues to build a “New Cambodia.”