Cambodia is shifting its environmental agenda from periodic clean-up campaigns towards long-term behavioural change, waste separation, forest expansion and stronger environmental governance under the Circular Strategy on Environment 2023-2028, according to the Ministry of Environment.
Built around the principles of “Clean, Green and Sustainable,” the strategy provides a framework for environmental protection, natural resource conservation and sustainable development while supporting Cambodia’s response to climate change.
The shift reflects a broader effort to make environmental responsibility part of everyday life rather than relying primarily on temporary clean-up activities.
Key Facts
| Indicator | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Circular Strategy | 2023-2028 |
| Core principles | Clean, Green and Sustainable |
| Plastic reduction campaign participation | About 15 million |
| Clean Cambodia, Khmer Can Do participants | More than 7 million |
| National roads cleaned | 94.12% |
| Waste-separation bins distributed by Oct. 1 | 45,120 |
| Additional bins planned for schools | 17,175 |
| Schools targeted | 5,725 |
| 2024 seedlings distributed | 1.3 million |
| 2025 seedlings distributed | 3.4 million |
| 2026 seedlings prepared | 5 million |
| Regional nurseries | 5 |
From Clean-Up Campaigns to Behavioural Change
Environment Minister Eang Sophalleth has called for Cambodia to strengthen environmental governance, law enforcement, conservation and community participation while continuing to expand green cover and support sustainable livelihoods.
Ministry spokesman Khvay Atitya said the “Clean” component has combined public education, awareness campaigns, commitments to reduce plastic use, practical clean-up activities and improved waste separation.
One major initiative, “Today I Do Not Use Plastic Bags,” began in schools before expanding nationwide. According to the ministry, about 15 million people, including students, citizens and monks, participated in the campaign.
The initiative encouraged participants to progressively increase the number of days they avoided plastic bags, with the aim of changing consumption habits over time.
It later evolved into “Clean Cambodia, Khmer Can Do,” which involved more than 7 million participants in cleaning homes, schools, pagodas and public spaces.
The government also implemented the “National Roads Without Waste and Plastic Waste” campaign. According to the ministry, 94.12% of national roads were cleaned, while 75% of those sections achieved cleanliness rates of between 80% and 100%.
The strategy itself identifies pollution control, modernised pollution monitoring, environmental impact assessment and improved waste management as important elements of the “Clean” pillar.
Waste Separation Becomes a Core Priority
Waste separation is another key part of Cambodia’s environmental transition.
As of October 1, the Ministry of Environment had distributed 45,120 waste bins for separation to schools, health centres, pagodas, displacement centres, prisons and government institutions across the country.
A further 20,741 bins were reported to be in stock, while plans called for another 17,175 bins to be distributed to 5,725 schools across 14 capitals and provinces.
If completed as planned, the cumulative number of distributed bins would reach 62,295.
The focus on separation is important because the environmental strategy is designed not simply to remove waste after it has been discarded, but to improve how waste is handled at its source.
This represents a move towards a system in which households, schools, communities, businesses and public institutions have clearer responsibilities for waste management.
Expanding Cambodia’s Green Cover
The second pillar, “Green,” focuses on protecting natural resources, expanding green areas and supporting sustainable community development.
The Ministry of Environment has strengthened protection of natural areas through cooperation with national institutions, armed forces and local authorities, using tools including maps, satellite imagery and drones.
Forest expansion is another major component.
The ministry has established five regional nurseries in Tboung Khmum, Mondulkiri, Siem Reap, Kampong Speu and Koh Kong.
Through the annual “Green Sprouts” initiative, the ministry distributed approximately:
| Year | Free seedlings |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1.3 million |
| 2025 | 3.4 million |
| 2026 | 5 million prepared |
The ministry has also experimented with aerial seed dispersal in remote areas.
The official Circular Strategy identifies forest expansion, protected-area management and stronger local community livelihoods as central elements of the “Green” pillar.
Linking Conservation With Local Livelihoods
Cambodia's environmental approach is also increasingly connecting conservation with economic opportunities.
The Ministry of Environment supports tourism services and infrastructure in green recreation areas, with the aim of encouraging local communities to participate in environmental protection while generating sustainable income.
This approach is particularly relevant to ecotourism destinations such as Khnong Phsar in Kampong Speu, where environmental quality is directly connected to the area's tourism appeal.
The ministry has said the goal is to expand the Green Sprouts initiative beyond tree planting and develop it into a broader social movement.
The “Sustainable” Pillar
The third pillar, “Sustainable,” connects domestic environmental management with Cambodia's climate and international commitments.
The framework includes the Cambodia Climate Change Strategic Plan 2024-2033, implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, NDC 3.0, the BBNJ Agreement, environmental diplomacy and efforts to mobilise international financing.
The official strategy also calls for stronger environmental laws and policies, improved institutional capacity, scientific and technological knowledge, and research covering areas such as green development, water security, biodiversity and climate change.
Cambodia's government has framed the broader environmental strategy around a long-term ambition of carbon neutrality and expanding forest cover, rather than treating environmental protection as a series of isolated campaigns.
From Campaigns to Environmental Culture
The most significant change is therefore not simply the number of clean-up activities or waste bins distributed.
The strategy seeks to move Cambodia through a progression from campaigns to movements, collection to management, separation to habits, and habits to culture.
That means environmental responsibility increasingly becomes part of routine behaviour in households, schools, communities, businesses and government institutions.
Angkor Times Analysis
Cambodia's environmental policy is entering a more institutional phase.
Clean-up campaigns can produce visible results, but long-term environmental improvement depends on what happens after the campaign ends. Waste separation, enforcement, forest restoration, community participation and sustainable financing require continuing systems rather than one-off mobilisation.
For businesses, the transition also creates a stronger expectation that environmental responsibility becomes part of normal operations, particularly in waste management, resource use, tourism and community engagement.
For communities, the connection between conservation and livelihoods could provide an incentive to protect natural assets when those assets generate sustainable economic opportunities.
The central test for the Circular Strategy will therefore be whether the initiatives can become consistent everyday practices supported by enforcement, infrastructure, financing and public participation.
If that transition succeeds, Cambodia's “Clean, Green and Sustainable” framework could move environmental protection from a campaign-based model towards a more durable environmental culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cambodia's Circular Strategy on Environment?
The Circular Strategy on Environment 2023-2028 is Cambodia's environmental policy framework built around three priorities: Clean, Green and Sustainable. It guides environmental protection, natural resource conservation and sustainable development.
What is Cambodia trying to change through the strategy?
The approach aims to move beyond temporary environmental campaigns towards long-term waste management, behavioural change, natural resource protection, forest expansion and stronger environmental governance.
How does waste separation fit into the strategy?
Waste separation is part of the “Clean” pillar. The government has been distributing separation bins to institutions including schools, health centres, pagodas and government facilities.
What is the Green Sprouts initiative?
Green Sprouts is a tree-growing and forest-expansion initiative under the “Green” pillar. The ministry reported distributing 1.3 million seedlings in 2024 and 3.4 million in 2025, with 5 million prepared for 2026.
Why is behavioural change important?
Long-term environmental improvement requires people to change everyday practices, including how they use plastic, dispose of waste, separate recyclable materials and participate in conservation. The Ministry of Environment has explicitly identified public awareness and participation as priorities for changing environmental behaviour.
What are the three pillars of the strategy?
They are Clean, focusing on pollution and waste management; Green, focusing on forests, protected areas and community livelihoods; and Sustainable, focusing on compliance, cooperation, climate action and long-term environmental governance.