A qualitative and quantitative design of low-carbon development in Cambodia: Energy policy

The formulation of a policy for a low-carbon development plan is one of the most important steps to help Cambodia achieve sustainable development objectives, promote a greener development path, and contribute to the global effort to reducing CO2 emissions. This study is designed to propose some low-carbon energy strategies and quantitatively to assess CO2 emissions and reductions. The Extended Snapshot (ExSS) tool is used to quantify socioeconomic assumptions and to estimate CO2 emissions and reduction potentials. The results show that CO2 emissions are projected to increase to about 23,277 (by about 5.5 times) and 91,325 ktCO2/year (by about 21.6 times) in 2030BaU and 2050BaU, respectively, from 4,221 ktCO2/year in 2010. This study proposes five strategies for low-carbon development plan towards 2050 which are expected to reduce CO2 emissions by about 12,826 (about 55%) and 52,153 ktCO2/year (about 57%) in 2030CM and 2050CM, respectively. The present results should help researchers and experts gain a better understanding of CO2 emissions and reduction potentials by applying a number of low-carbon measures in Cambodia. While the results should be counted as a preliminary study because of limited available country information, they are expected to provide useful insights for the government in formulating a concrete climate change mitigation policy for the country.