In 2023, the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) took a significant step towards environmental stewardship by officially endorsing the Environment and Natural Resources Code (ENR Code). This landmark decision incorporated the implementation of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as a pivotal element in driving development. Recognizing the significance of this initiative, ODC committed itself to actively supporting the enforcement, dissemination, and monitoring of SEA progress.
As part of this commitment, on November 22, ODC, with support from USAID through FHI 360, organized a highly impactful workshop/dialogue to discuss the implementation of SEA. This event brought together key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Environment’s Department of EIA and the National Council for Sustainable Development (NCSD), as well as representatives from the Ministry of Planning, the Ministry of Tourism, an EIA consultancy firm, and ClientEarth. The participation extended to over 50 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), journalists, and indigenous representatives from various provinces, all working collaboratively towards sustainable development and inclusivity.
The success of the project implementation is evident in the positive shift observed in the behavior of relevant ministries. The increased responsiveness and active participation of these ministries showcase the tangible impact of the project. This success not only marks a significant milestone in advancing SEA implementation but also underscores the project’s contribution to fostering positive changes within governmental entities, fostering a more collaborative and participatory approach to sustainable national development.
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Improving access to essential EIA reports
To improve access to meaningful and reliable natural resource management (NRM) and environmental protection data, ODC has taken a significant initiative to ensure the availability of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports. Providing the public with EIA reports is critical to ensuring transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making. It enables the public to understand the potential environmental consequences of proposed projects and hold decision-makers accountable. The public\'s access to this information promotes informed debate, ensures that all stakeholders\' voices are heard, and supports the prevention of environmentally harmful projects. This transparency fosters trust among the government, industry, and the community, resulting in improved environmental outcomes. This will help the relevant stakeholders and community to monitor the project implementation. However, the advocacy for disclosure poses substantial challenges. As a first step, ODC organized a series of workshops on the disclosure of environmental data, specifically EIA reports. These workshops were attended by CSOs, the Ministry of Environment\'s EIA Department, and other stakeholders. During these sessions, ODC emphasized the importance of making EIA reports public and encouraged collaboration to achieve this transparency. In addition to the workshops, ODC wrote several official letters to the MoE and partners, urging them to release the EIA reports. This advocacy was addressed through both formal and informal settings. Despite the government\'s initial stance of \"No Disclosure,\" there was one notable development: ODC was able to find alternative locations where environmental data and reports are stored. While direct requests to the government for EIA report disclosure have yet to make results, ODC identified an alternative approach, i.e., that CSOs with access to EIA reports can share them. Through numerous discussions and advocacy efforts, ODC raised critical questions, including, \"Why can\'t these reports be shared when regulations require their disclosure?\" Furthermore, \"Why aren\'t the CSOs sharing the reports they have?\" ODC continued to lobby key stakeholders through discussions, official requests, and workshops. These persistent efforts, supported by USAID through CSS, returned a significant breakthrough: an agreement to share more than 90 draft EIA reports from the Development and Partnership in Action Organization (DPA). Most of these reports focus on major projects in the extractive industrial sector that interest researchers, advocates, journalists, and CSOs.