Phnom Penh, Cambodia – As world leaders meet in New York from Monday to discuss the global challenge of climate change, thousands of kilometres away people in Cambodia are grappling with dramatic changes to the country’s ecosystem, including the lowest water levels in the crucially-important Mekong River ever recorded.
The United Nations Development Programme, which partners with the Cambodian government on climate, says the country is among the three most vulnerable areas in Asia.
“[Cambodia] is highly vulnerable due to a relatively low adaptive capacity,” said Nick Beresford, UNDP Cambodia’s Resident Representative.
“Agriculture is mostly rain-fed, and most infrastructures are not yet climate-resilient,” he added, warning that many households would probably be unable to withstand “climate-related shocks” like droughts or floods.
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