Cambodia’s Deputy PM Urges Global Action Against Climate Protectionism at Green Summit

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Oct.30, 2025) — Cambodia’s Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Vongsey Vissoth issued a strong call for global cooperation and climate financing during his opening remarks at the 2025 World Green and Sustainability Summit, warning that “climate protectionism” threatens to undermine progress in developing nations.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Hotel in Phnom Penh on Oct. 30, Vissoth urged advanced economies to avoid imposing green trade barriers without offering technical and financial support. “The future will be defined not by those who hesitate, but by those who act,” he said, emphasizing that bold, forward-looking action must replace fragmented global responses.

Vissoth proposed eight key recommendations to accelerate climate action, including simplifying access to climate finance, lowering borrowing costs for green infrastructure, and promoting technology transfer. He also called for solidarity among governments, businesses, and research institutions to share innovations and best practices.

Highlighting Cambodia’s vulnerability to climate change, Vissoth said the country is committed to building a green, inclusive economy through its Pentagonal Strategy and long-term carbon neutrality roadmap. He invited global partners to collaborate through regional frameworks like the ASEAN Green Deal and to support Cambodia’s green transformation, including its textile sector and clean energy ambitions.

“Green growth is not a limit to development—it is the new engine of growth,” he said.