Cambodia has taken a significant step towards improving the accuracy of its greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting. The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), and the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) conducted a two-day technical training workshop on developing country-specific methane emission factors for rice cultivation on July 8–9, 2026.
The training brought together officials, technical experts, and researchers from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Ministry of Environment (MoE), General Department of Agriculture (GDA), Cambodian Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Royal University of Agriculture (RUA), RUPP, GGGI, and IRRI.
The training addressed Cambodia’s need for more accurate GHG data to support climate commitments. Currently, methane emissions from rice cultivation are mainly estimated using IPCC Tier 1 default emission factors, which do not fully reflect the country’s diverse rice production systems and environmental conditions.
Developing country-specific Tier 2 emission factors will improve the accuracy, transparency, and credibility of Cambodia’s national GHG inventory and strengthen reporting under the Paris Agreement.
The training covered methane quantification methods, IPCC methodologies for national GHG inventory, field experiment design, gas sampling techniques, laboratory analysis, and factors influencing methane emissions from rice cultivation. Participants also learned about the importance of standardised protocols and quality assurance to ensure reliable measurements.
A field demonstration in Kampong Thom province allowed participants to gain hands-on experience in establishing experimental sites, installing chambers, collecting gas samples, monitoring water levels, and gathering field data.
Yorn Try, Deputy Director-General of the General Directorate of Agronomy and Vice Chair of the National Methane Reduction Committee, said the programme was important for strengthening the capacity of agricultural officials in addressing GHG emissions and global warming.
Bui Tan Yen, a Climate Change Scientist at IRRI, said developing country-specific emission factors would strengthen Cambodia’s climate reporting and provide a scientific foundation for effective policies, climate investments, and access to climate finance.
The workshop is part of ongoing cooperation among IRRI, GGGI, and Cambodian partners to support the Cambodia Methane Reduction Roadmap, advance climate-smart agriculture, and strengthen mitigation efforts in the rice sector.
Chumnan Ith, Vice Chief in Charge of the Environmental Impact Assessment Office at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), said he was pleased to attend the seminar on the transition from Tier 1 to Tier 2 modelling.
“The importance of this transition lies in understanding the broader context. In Cambodia, the government has adopted the Pentagonal Strategy, which focuses on strengthening the resilience of natural resource management and building a sustainable economy.
To achieve sustainable economic growth, the Cambodian government became a signatory to the Paris Agreement in 2015. As a party to the agreement, Cambodia is required to regularly report its progress in line with the established framework.
Our reporting obligations include preparing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), developing a Long-Term Strategy for Carbon Neutrality, and submitting greenhouse gas inventories through Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), including BTR1 and BTR2.
To produce these reports, we must conduct an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, which means measuring and calculating all emissions generated in the country. Today, I will focus only on the agricultural sector, specifically rice cultivation.
This workshop focuses on why Cambodia needs to move from Tier 1 to Tier 2 calculations. Tier 1 uses default emission factors established by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and applies them globally.
Tier 2, however, is more accurate and better reflects national circumstances.
Under Tier 1, the IPCC’s default methodology is applied uniformly to all countries. For example, methane emissions from rice cultivation are calculated based on the total cultivated area using standard assumptions. This approach does not adequately reflect Cambodia’s actual farming practices and conditions.
By developing Tier 2 methodologies, Cambodia can account for local practices such as improved water management, better fertiliser use, and the adoption of climate-resilient rice varieties. These measures can help reduce emissions and create opportunities for participation in carbon markets.
The ultimate goal is to access carbon finance, which can support the national economy while also providing benefits to Cambodian farmers.”
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