Launch of Innovation Challenge for “#BeatPlastic Campaign” to Fight Plastic Pollution in Cambodia

December 13, 2021


Phnom Penh, 9th December 2021
– The National Council for Sustainable Development (NCSD), Ministry of Environment (MoE) with support from Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched the Innovation Challenge for “#BeatPlastic Campaign”. This challenge calls for innovative ideas for awareness raising campaigns to change behaviors to fight plastic pollution. A total of four winners will be awarded up to US$18,000 each of four categories to implement their individual “#BeatPlastic” campaigns.

Cambodia’s growing economy and population over the last decades have led to an exponential increase in the volume of solid waste, including plastic. Plastic pollution has highly damaging environmental and economic impacts, not to mention its adverse impacts on marine ecosystems.

To tackle plastic pollution, in 2018, the MoE set the promotion of the 4Rs (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) framework as a key policy agenda. The ministry is currently developing new regulatory measures on plastic products.   

H.E. Kith Chankrisna, Advisor to the Minister of Environment and the Project Director of “Combatting Marine Plastic Litter in Cambodia” project remarked that “the effectiveness of new regulations in reducing plastic pollution depends on improved awareness among stakeholders and active participation of all stakeholders. I hope that through this Innovation Challenge we can create collective movements according to the common policy of both the MoE and the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) in reducing plastic pollution and other solid wastes, which then moving towards a life with comfort, good health and clean environment.”

Echoing H.E. Advisor, Ms. Alissar Chaker, UNDP Cambodia’s Resident Representative commented that “combatting plastic pollution is not an easy task and requires a strategic approach. This challenge therefore aims to identify and test innovative and effective solutions for campaigns that can raise public awareness and create behavioral change toward the 4Rs.”

H.E. Mikami Masahiro, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Cambodia further noted that “Japan is committed to working alongside Cambodia to jointly fight with plastic pollution through the Combatting Marine Plastic Litter project.”

H.E. Chuop Paris concluded that “through this innovation challenge, we will strive to understand and innovate in the effective use of plastic.”

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For media inquiries, please contact:

.  Mr. Meng Eang Taing, Director of Department of Green Economy, NCSD at mengeangtaing@gmail.com

.  Mr. Toshikazu Tokioka, The First Secretary, Embassy of Japan, toshikazu.tokioka@mofa.go.jp

.  Mr. Samruol Im, Head of Communications, UNDP Cambodia at samruol.im@undp.org

Press Release (Khmer): https://www.kh.undp.org/content/cambodia/km/home/_-news-centre/_-press-release/2021/_--_--_.html