Kampong Chhnang and Pursat, Cambodia
Climate Adaptation on the Shores of Southeast Asia’s Largest Lake
90% sanitation coverage achieved Inhabitants Kampong Chhnang: 40,911 Pursat: 68,247 GDP per capita Kampong Chhnang: $1,643* Pursat: $1,643* Geographic area Kampong Chhnang: 5,521 km² Pursat: 12,692 km² * national data
THE CHALLENGE Severe flooding and poor environmental sanitation are key infrastructure issues affecting the health and well-being of residents in Kampong Chhnang and Pursat.
Improvements to drainage, flood protection, solid waste management, and community mobilization will help increase resilience for the 100,000 residents living around Tonle Sap, Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake. The Kampong Chhnang and Pursat provinces, which border Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake, are introducing environmental infrastructure to improve sanitation and reduce vulnerability in the regions, which can expect to see increased flooding due to climate change. As part of the ongoing Integrated Urban Environmental Management in the Tonle Sap Basin project, Kampong Chhnang and Pursat will increase flood protection through embankment construction and reinforcement, with sluice gate and drainage installation further strengthening efforts. These measures are expected to reduce the number of households affected by flooding in Kampong Chhnang by 80% and in Pursat by 50%. Additionally, new solid waste collection and landfill management will improve sanitation in the two regions, and community resilience will be increased through climate change awareness campaigns and the introduction of early warning systems. Moving forward, the provision of similar decentralized urban services and resilient infrastructure may be replicated in other municipalities and urban areas within Cambodia. The project is financed by ADB in conjunction with the Government of Cambodia.
Co-benefits Economic Flood control components will decrease property damage and lessen agricultural and commercial losses in the region. Health Reduced flood risks and improved sanitation will decrease the prevalence of waterborne diseases, and the introduction of sidewalks and solar lamps will improve resident safety.
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Key infrastructure issues. Intensified flooding due to climate change will impact communities who live in lowlying areas with limited solid waste management (photo by Vuth Ratha).
