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Implications of Climate Change Impact on Rural Livelihood and Food Security in Cambodia

© Chhuon Kong

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Email: chhuon.k@gmail.com

Abstract. Climate Change (CC) is a global challenge, but many of the effects will be felt most acutely by poorer countries and poorer people (WB 2010). The impact of CC will be an unprecedented and increasing global threat to life, livelihoods and life-supporting systems. Ironically, Cambodia’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is negligible but this country is suffering from the effects of global warming due to excessive emissions in other parts of the world. Limited and low adaptive capacity and dependence on climate-sensitive livelihood are arguably factors in Cambodia’s vulnerability to CC.

Cambodia is expected to experience extreme weather events cause more frequent floods, droughts, resulting in crop failures and food shortages and more severe water scarcity.  The reason why it is vulnerable to natural disasters is that the livelihoods of the majority of people depend directly upon natural resources, with a large proportion of population occupying in agriculture. More than 10 million (80.5%) Cambodians currently living in rural areas, over 8.5 million depend on natural resources to support their livelihoods. Most are subsistence, relying on one crop of rice per year. Although rice farming remains the dominant activity in rural areas, fisheries and forest resources also play a critical role in supporting livelihoods and sufficient availability and reliable access to water is commonly a constraint to production and other activities. At the national level, poverty is still relatively high, 25% of the population. CC is a factor provokes food insecurity and malnutrition in Cambodia. Reversely, food insecurity and malnutrition cause Cambodia’s vulnerability to CC impacts.

CC puts risk and uncertainty at the heart of development. Despite the significant degree of risk and uncertainty, there are measures that can be adopted. In addition, much of the response to CC in the country will depend on putting in place effective mechanisms for management of water and land resources. Within the key rural productive sectors of water resources, agriculture/agroforestry, fisheries and forestry, there are significant opportunities to improve rural livelihood and food security, while building resilient rural livelihoods with local actions with climate-smart approach.

The present paper is a compilation of observations on impacts of CC according to key sectors, outlining the vulnerability context, discussing the implications of these impacts on rural livelihood and food security and considering principles and options for building resilient rural livelihoods in Cambodia.

Keywords: Climate Change (CC), Vulnerability, Rural Livelihood, Food Security, Climate-smart, Building Resilient, Key Sectors, Cambodia,

This paper's abstract is the compilation of different sources which could be revealed depend upon the full paper.