Can Cambodia afford to go green?

Published: Apr 02, 2012

Written by: Sann Sethvitou, Economics Today

Some worry a focus on green industry could impede economic growth

Cambodia is the first least-developed country to begin working toward “greening” its economy, and the government has released a plan to promote environmentally friendly industry. But some wonder if this is the right time to be talking about a green economy since environmental protections might serve to slow economic growth rates and hurt the country’s drive toward poverty reduction and greater prosperity.
“The Royal Government of Cambodia fully recognizes that national growth is to be inclusive, equitable and ecologically friendly with the strong support of the strengthened institutional framework for sustainable development,” said Environment Minister Mok Mareth in his opening remarks at a conference in Phnom Penh in preparation for the Rio+20 UN conference on sustainable development.
The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20, will be held from June 20-22 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is known as Rio +20 because it marks the twentieth anniversary of a similar meeting in 1992. The green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication will be a primary focus.
By Sann Sethvitou, Economics Today

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