
Southeast Asia is experiencing significant urbanization, economic and population growth. Without intervention, these factors and a warming climate will lead energy consumption for comfort cooling and related emissions to increase exponentially.
According to the 2021 Cambodia National Cooling Action Plan, demand for space cooling is set to double between 2020-2040 to 3.7 million tons of refrigeration in Cambodia. Buildings are responsible for one third of the total final energy consumption in Cambodia. With a hot- humid climate, energy demand for space cooling accounts for the largest portion of electricity use in buildings’ operation.
Action to reduce the need for mechanical cooling is critical to avoid emissions, as well as the negative impacts of the growing use of cooling appliances on the energy grid. Extensive national government and expert consultations, including during Cambodia’s National Cooling Action Plan development, have pointed to the need for greater municipal intervention on cooling and extreme heat.
Integrating passive cooling solutions (PCS) in national building laws and urban strategies will optimize buildings performance, maximize mitigation and climate benefits from efficient, climate-friendly cooling, and deliver cooling services to ensure thermal comfort to users.
In consultation with the Ministry of Environment of Cambodia, the project will pursue impactful measures to reduce cooling demand in buildings and cities, with a focus on Passive Cooling Solutions (PCS) and mitigation of the Urban Heat Island Effect (UHIE).
The project will include:
- Policy interventions through the inclusion of PCS in building energy regulations.
- Demonstrate passive cooling applications in buildings.
- Deliver awareness raising and capacity building for large scale replication.
- Support the inclusion of GHG emission reductions from PCS in the next cycle target for Cambodia’s NDC.
The project is co-led by the Cool Coalition Secretariat and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and funded by the Clean Cooling Collaborative (CCC).






The Compendium for Passive Cooling Strategies in Cambodia serves as a practical guide for integrating passive cooling strategies into Cambodia’s building sector. Tailored for architects, engineers, building owners, and professionals in construction and maintenance, it highlights three key types of strategies: site-oriented, design-oriented, and material/technology-oriented measures. Each section offers clear technical insights, practical application steps, and helpful tools to assist in selecting the most effective passive cooling options for projects. Beyond the core strategies, the compendium also includes a material directory and international case studies, providing additional support for the successful adoption of these solutions.
The Compendium was developed and published by the Ministry of Environment of Cambodia. This work was made possible through the technical and financial support of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Cool Coalition, and the ClimateWorks Foundation, whose contributions were crucial to its development.