The sale of carbon credits enhances Cambodia’s
image and prestige on the international stage, underlined here yesterday Neth
Pheaktra, Secretary of State and Spokesman for the Ministry of Environment at a
discussion forum organised as part of a Workshop on “Strengthening the
Conservation and Management of Protected Area Systems”.
According to the spokesperson, from 2016 to
2020, Cambodia sold $11.6 million worth of carbon credits in the voluntary
market, from three locations: Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, Southern Cardamom
National Park and Tatai Wildlife Sanctuary.
The sale of carbon credits shows that Cambodia
has well protected and preserved protected areas as well as natural resources,
which makes Cambodia a leading country in selling carbon credits.
Mr Pheaktra also reaffirmed the Ministry of
Environment’s commitment to cooperate with park rangers, local authorities and
development partners in the protection and conservation of natural resources in
a sustainable manner.
In July, the Secretary of State told the Agence
Kampuchea Presse (AKP) that Cambodia was working toward selling carbon credits
in other areas, such as the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary in Stung Treng
province. He said a carbon credit which equals to one tonne of carbon dioxide
prevented from entering the atmosphere costs between $3 and $6.
“Cambodia has so far sold less than 10 million
tonnes of carbon dioxide and we have earned about US$11.6 million. The
generated funds have been used to conserve natural resources as well as
participate in community development,” he pointed out.
Cambodia has been looking for other partners to
buy more carbon credits, he said, adding that the companies that have purchased
carbon credits in the voluntary market are Disney, Shell and Gucci.
According to data received, a carbon credit is
a permit that allows the company that holds it to emit a certain amount of
carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases.
One credit permits the emission of a mass equal
to one tonne of carbon dioxide. Companies that pollute are awarded credits that
allow them to continue to pollute up to a certain limit. The ultimate goal of
carbon credits is to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases into the
atmosphere.
Based on the ministry’s record, Cambodia
currently has nearly 70 protected areas and biodiversity corridors, including
national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, multi-use areas, Ramsar sites, and other
conservation sites covering a total of 7.3 million hectares, or 41 percent of
Cambodia’s land area.
The government has deployed some 1,200 rangers
to guard those areas. C. Nika