Cambodia has reaffirmed its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening climate resilience through technological innovation, with Environment Minister Eang Sophalleth calling for greater international support to expand access to artificial intelligence (AI) technology and financing for developing countries.
Sophalleth made the remarks at the Artificial Intelligence for Climate Action Forum 2026, held in Phnom Penh from October 13 to 14.
The event brought together senior Cambodian Government officials, members of the UNFCCC Technology Executive Committee (TEC), the UN Resident Coordinator in Cambodia, the KOICA Country Director, technology and climate science experts, and approximately 200 national and international delegates.
Sophalleth said Cambodia had firmly committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change through technological modernisation and commitments made to the international community, with the aim of keeping emissions as low as possible.
He highlighted key measures that countries worldwide must adopt collectively to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
He also called on the international community to increase the transfer of AI technology and provide greater financial support to developing countries, ensuring equitable access to these technologies and enabling collective efforts to address the threats posed by climate change.
The adoption of new technologies, particularly AI, would help Cambodia minimise environmental impacts as it works towards a green and carbon-neutral economy, he added.
Vladanka Andreeva, the UN Resident Coordinator in Cambodia, emphasised the importance of AI in helping developing countries build resilient economic and social systems capable of responding to climate change in a timely manner.
Fred Ontonri, a member of the UNFCCC Technology Executive Committee, said hosting the forum demonstrated that Cambodia was not merely a country affected by climate change but was also playing an active role in applying advanced technological solutions to address the global climate crisis.
The forum aims to demonstrate the shared commitment of Cambodia and other developing and island nations, in cooperation with the international community, to combating climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
It also seeks to facilitate the transfer of AI technology to developing countries to strengthen their resilience to climate change.
