ABSTRACT
Chapter 9 looks at Cambodia’s unsustainable capital city, Phnom Penh. The key question here is: Can economic growth, environmental protections, and social sustainability be reconciled despite poor governance, corruption and a lack of rule of law? As in Hanoi, the main drivers for innovation are international agencies working with the national Government and NGOs, but few of their ideas or plans have an impact on public policies. Key obstacles include poor governance, corruption, lack of rule of law, business activity controlled by the political elite, ongoing city growth with no real planning, insufficient energy supply, extreme congestion, and insufficient water supply, sanitation, solid waste and flood management. Phnom Penh provides an example of a city government that is not pursuing sustainability policies and where the hub is not functioning. Vested interests are strong and the government represses its opponents, making it difficult for the hub to function well.
