Desktop Study on - Regional Climate Change Adaptation ...

Assessment of Capacity Gaps and Needs of South East Asia Countries
in Addressing Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Variability and Climate Change
lake condition, the lake serves as one of the richest
sources of freshwater fish in the world (ibid).
Socio-Economic Status
Cambodia is one of the least developed countries
(LDC). The country’s GDP per capita of the year 2007
amounts to US$ 598 and the literacy rate of total
population over 15 is 74% (UN data, 2009). The
agricultural, industrial and service sector accounted
for 29%, 30% and 41% of GDP respectively in 2007
(CIA, 2009). Agricultural production is affected by
the flooding and recession of the Tônlé Sap Lake and
the Mekong River, which brings fertile alluviums to
the central plains (Royal Government of Cambodia,
2006).
Cambodia’s population of 2007 was 14,444,000, of
which approximately 80 percent lived in rural areas
(UN data, 2009). Meanwhile, those who have access
to improved drinking water sources in rural areas
amounted to only 35% of total population in 2004
(WHO and UNICEF, 2006c). Furthermore, 35% of the
population lived below the poverty line in 2004 (UN
data, 2009).
Climate Risks
The Cambodia-specific climate profile including
current climatic conditions and projected climate
scenarios are briefly explained as background
information to address vulnerability and adaptation
issues.
Current Climatic Conditions
Cambodia has a characteristic tropical monsoon
climate with a dry season from mid November to
mid May and a rainy season from mid May to mid
November (Royal Government of Cambodia, 2006).
The annual average temperature is 27°C, and it rises
up to 38°C in April or May and falls to a minimum
of 14°C in January or December. The average annual
rainfall is about 1,400 mm on the central plain, and it
increases to as much as 3,800 mm in the mountains
and along the coast (Royal Government of Cambodia,
2009).
The natural disasters in Cambodia from the period
of 1980 through 2009 are summarised in the Table
13, including the type of natural disasters, the
total number of incidents and people affected, and
economical damages generated by each incident.
Flood is the major natural disaster in Cambodia that
endangers people’s lives.
Climate Projections
Cambodia is expected to experience the increase
in temperatures and precipitation, possibly with
monsoon seasons wetter and less rainfall in the dry
season (Hoanh et al., 2003, Snidvongs et al., 2003,
Ruosteenoha et al., 2003 cited in Roth, 2009). The
study for the 4th IPCC Assessment demonstrates
the detailed projections of temperature rise by 0.7
to 2.7°C by 2060s and the increase in mean annual
rainfall mainly resulted from wetter rainy seasons
(-11 to +31%) and partially due to offset by drier
Table_12 Cambodia country profile
overview
Country level information (UNdata 2009, CIA 2009, WHO
/ UNICEF 2006, National Institute of Statistics, 2008,
Royal Government of Cambodia, 2009)
Surface area (km2)
Bordering countries
181,035
Laos PDR,
Thailand, Viet
Nam
Population, 2007 (Estimated) 14,444,000
Percentage of population, 2007 (%) in
- rural areas
- urban areas
Population density, 2007 (persons/
km2)
Population growth rate, 2005-2010 (%
per annum)
79.1
20.9
79.8
1.7
Forest cover (% of total area) 53
Arable land (% of total area) 20.44
GDP, nominal, 2007 (million US$) 8,639
Contribution of agricultural sector to
GDP, 2007 (%)
Contribution of industrial sector to
GDP, 2007 (%)
Contribution of service sector to GDP,
2007 (%)
Population below poverty line , 2004
(% of total population)
Infant mortality rate, 2005-2010 (per 1
000 live births)
Literacy rate, 2007 (% of total
population over 15 that can read and
write)
Access to improved drinking water
sources, 2004 (% of total population)
in
- rural areas
- urban areas
29
30
41
35
62.7
74
35
64
107