UNDP Cambodia Investor Convening

According to the 2024 Regional Human Development Report published by UNDP, Asia-Pacific is most dynamic and the fastest growing regions. It has gained 19 percentage points in the Human Development Index (HDI) and Cambodia has been on the forefront in significantly reducing multidimensional poverty. This growth, however, comes with its own set of challenges and responsibilities, especially in the face of the climate crisis—a crisis that threatens to unravel decades of developmental gains. Progress has not been distributed equally. We are facing an uncertain future, therefore Cambodia has to focus on reducing inequality, vulnerability and human insecurity. One of the paths highlighted by the report is to accelerate climate change adaptation and diversifying the local economy.  This is especially important as Cambodia ranks amongst the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Based on modelling conducted in 2019 by UNDP, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the Ministry of Environment, it was estimated that climate change is likely to reduce absolute GDP by 2.5 percent by 2030 and by almost 10 percent by 2050. A World Bank report published in 2023 reached similar findings. Therefore, we need to commit to sustainable development, powered by the innovations of Cambodian start-ups and the support of the global investment community.