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This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs compares the implementation of environmental, socioeconomic, and governance (ESG) standards in two Chinese-funded hydropower projects: the Bui Dam in Ghana and the Stung Tatay project in Cambodia. It examines China's domestic regulatory framework for hydropower and analyzes how local government capacity and transparency in the recipient countries influenced the success of ESG mitigation efforts.

This research paper examines arsenic contamination in Cambodian rice, finding that the increasing use of groundwater for dry season irrigation facilitates the uptake of naturally occurring arsenic into rice grains. While arsenic in drinking water is a known issue, the document highlights a significant lack of awareness and data regarding rice as an exposure pathway. It identifies Kandal and Prey Veng as high-risk areas and notes that Cambodian rice can have higher arsenic levels than rice from Thailand or Viet Nam. The authors recommend improving surface water irrigation and diversifying crops to reduce reliance on contaminated groundwater.

This policy brief, published by the Stockholm Environment Institute in March 2023, examines air pollution and its health impacts on workers in Cambodia's garment sector. Based on a study of 16 factories, it finds that while particulate matter levels generally complied with national standards and WHO guidelines on the day of assessment, there is a significant lack of worker awareness regarding air quality and its health risks. The document highlights the gendered nature of the workforce and recommends strengthening national air quality standards, improving gender-inclusive safety policies, and increasing worker education.