Cambodia Builds Climate Data Hub

Cambodia has begun constructing a new water resources and meteorology data centre in Phnom Penh, a facility officials describe as the nation’s “digital brain” for weather and climate monitoring.

Chan Sinath, secretary of state at the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, inspected the site last week and said the centre will transform how the country gathers and analyses data. “It has the potential to gather data, analyse it, and forecast the weather with high accuracy,” he explained.

The centre is expected to play a crucial role in issuing early warning alerts, helping authorities manage the risks of floods and droughts — disasters that have repeatedly disrupted lives and livelihoods across Cambodia. In 2025 alone, drought damaged more than 15,000 hectares of rice fields across 17 provinces, while flooding affected 22 provinces and destroyed over 31,000 hectares of crops.

Equipped with advanced digital technologies, the hub will serve as a backbone for institutions ranging from agriculture and civil aviation to tourism and disaster management. Officials say it will strengthen Cambodia’s resilience as climate risks intensify, with extreme weather events becoming more frequent and severe.

Cambodia is widely regarded as one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. By centralising meteorological and water data, the new centre aims to give policymakers and communities the tools to respond faster and more effectively to looming threats.

For a nation where rice farming remains vital and weather extremes increasingly unpredictable, the project marks a significant step towards safeguarding both the economy and public safety.

-2026-03-09