The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Environment Ministers convened in Phnom Penh this Friday to discuss enhanced cooperation in safeguarding the region's natural treasures. Cambodian Minister of Environment Eang Sophalleth highlighted the significance of the sixth GMS Environment Ministers' Meeting as a major leap forward in their collective efforts to secure a clean, green, sustainable, and resilient future for all GMS nations.
\"The Greater Mekong Subregion is a region of extraordinary natural beauty and biodiversity, home to ecosystems that support millions of livelihoods,\" Sophalleth stated during the opening ceremony. He emphasized that forests, rivers, and wetlands are not only vital sources of life but also the backbone of the economies and deeply intertwined with the cultural and spiritual identities of the people in the GMS countries.
Despite the region's ongoing economic development and industrialization, it faces significant environmental challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and unsustainable development. Sophalleth pointed out that the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters in the GMS underscore the urgent need for improved climate resilience, stronger disaster risk reduction strategies, enhanced early warning systems, and investments in climate-resilient infrastructure.
Improving environmental quality is crucial for the health and well-being of the population. \"Pollution control and waste management, especially the reduction of plastic use, are central to creating cleaner air, water, and soil,\" he added.
The meeting brought together environment ministers or their representatives from Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, providing a unique platform to strengthen partnerships, share knowledge, and coordinate efforts to address these pressing environmental issues. \"Together, we can build a resilient, sustainable future for the Greater Mekong Subregion, ensuring that our natural treasures are preserved for generations to come,\" Sophalleth concluded.
Key outcomes from the meeting include the endorsement of the 2030 Strategic Framework for Accelerating Climate Action and Environmental Sustainability in the GMS and the Phnom Penh Joint Statement on Plastic Pollution Control.
Fatima Yasmin, Vice President for Sectors and Themes of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), emphasized the importance of integrating climate resilience and environmental sustainability into all aspects of development plans, policies, and investments. \"For this reason, ADB has committed to allocate its own resources amounting to $100 billion towards climate action in Asia and the Pacific over the period of 12 years from 2019 to 2030,\" she stated.
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GMS ministers discuss cooperation to safeguard environmental treasures
cgtn.com
