The National Energy Efficiency Policy 2022-2030 (NEEP) reported that buildings accounted for 52% of Cambodia’s energy consumption in 2019. To address this, the Royal Government of Cambodia aims to reduce energy use in residential and commercial buildings by 34% and 25%, respectively, by 2030. Key policies such as the Updated Nationally Determined Contribution and the National Cooling Action Plan support this goal. However, challenges remain, especially in Phnom Penh, the fast-growing capital and economic hub, where rapid development has increased demand for electricity and construction materials.

Phnom Penh, with its booming construction of residential, commercial, and public buildings, presents both a challenge and an opportunity to promote low-carbon development. The ALCBT Project, in partnership with the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, will assess and develop tools for low-carbon buildings in Phnom Penh, with potential for replication in other Cambodian cities.