The Kingdom of Cambodia (hereinafter Cambodia) is one of Korea’s priority partner countries for official development assistance (ODA) in accordance with Korea’s second Mid-term Strategy for Development Cooperation for 2016 to 2020. Based on the Korean government’s Country Partnership Strategy (CPS), Korea’s development cooperation with Cambodia focuses on transportation, water management, health and hygiene, education and agricultural development. Although water management is one of the priority cooperation areas, Korea’s development cooperation in the environmental sector is limited.
   This research studies Korea’s development cooperation in Cambodia in the environment sector. Cambodia’s national environmental strategies and policies were reviewed together with development cooperation projects from major ODA donor countries, international societies and institutions. We also identify environmental challenges within Cambodia based on available resources and a workshop which included representatives from the National Council for Sustainable Development, Ministry of Environment, Royal Academy of Cambodia, among others. The identified environmental challenges in Cambodia include: 1) forestry, 2) water and hygiene, 3) waste, 4) climate change and greenhouse gas emission and 5) atmospheric environment.
   In addition, the research identified how Cambodia’s environmental challenges are interconnected with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This was analyzed using the SDG Interlinkages Analysis & Visualisation Tool (V.3) developed by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies. The analysis of the environmental challenges illustrates the synergies and conflict effects that could potentially occur depending on the interactions between the different goals and indicators of Cambodia’s SDGs.
   In conclusion, the research suggests the future direction of development cooperation for the environment in Cambodia. Fundamentally, development cooperation between Korea and Cambodia in the environment sector should reflect and be in line with Korea’s New Southern Policy, which seeks to expand cooperation with the member states of the ASEAN including Cambodia. In addition, based on the review of Cambodia’s environmental challenges and the SDGs interlinkage analysis, the research suggests four areas for development cooperation for the environment between Korea and Cambodia: 1) support for the establishment of environmental policies and institutions, 2) capacity building and technological support, 3) additional financing, and 4) enhancing existing development cooperation based on the SDGs interlinkage analysis. Furthermore, development cooperation projects in the areas of forestry, water and sanitation, waste, climate change and atmospheric environment are suggested considering the SDGs interlinkage analysis.