First steps taken to implement action plan on air quality
How to effectively implement D ecision No. 985a /QD-TTg approving the national action plan on air quality management up to 2020, with a vision toward 2025, was the subject of a conference.
Air pollution is increasing in big cities in Vietnam. (Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – How to effectively implement Decision No. 985a /QD-TTg approving the national action plan on air quality management up to 2020, with a vision toward 2025, was the subject of a conference held in Hanoi on September 22.
The conference was chaired by Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan and Christophe Crepin, head of social, environmental and rural development unit, East Asia and Pacific region, World Bank.
According to Nhan, the approval of the action plan aims to boost the management of air quality via controlling sources of exhaust emission and monitoring air quality towards improving the quality of air environment and ensuring public health.
Nguyen Truong Huynh, from the Vietnam Environment Administration, said the plan aims to ensure 80 percent of steel, chemical and fertiliser manufacturing facilities meeting technical standards on dust and SO2, NOx, CO exhaust.
The plan also acts on minimising particle pollution in terms of PM10 and PM2.5 (Particulate Matter) at major sources of exhaust, mainly in industrial, energy, construction and transport sectors, while completing the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Decision 909 on controlling motorbike exhaust in provinces and cities.
Another goal of the action plan is to determine the PM10 and PM 2.5 pollution levels in big cities and increase the national capability in controlling greenhouse gas to contribute to fulfilling Vietnam’s commitment on greenhouse gas emission.
The monitoring of air quality will be strengthened by increasing the number of automated air quality measurement stations in cities.
Nguyen Huu Tien, deputy head of the Department of Environment under the Ministry of Transport, said the ministry💝 would soon implement a road map on applying standards for motorbike exhaust, and develop national technical standards on exhaust for automobiles.-VNA
Air pollution in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City has risen to alarming levels due to waste, dust and noise pollution, and has affected the health of area residents.
Scientists of Technology University under Vietnam National University have successfully developed an air pollution management system using satellite photos.
The national action plan on air quality control until 2020 with a vision to 2025, which aims to strictly monitor sources of exhaust fumes, especially industrial fumes, has been approved by the PM.
The quality of air in the capital city, Hanoi, has consistently worsened, especially in urban areas, main transport routes and ongoing construction sites, a municipal official said.
Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, said the World Bank remains committed to working with the Vietnamese government to develop the next phase of climate resilience and transformation for the Mekong Delta.
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
Air pollution is increasing in big cities in Vietnam. (Source: VNA)
