Addressing a meeting in Hanoi, Ha emphasized that although the Environmental Protection Law has outlined the responsibilities of state agencies, local authorities, organizations, and individuals in protecting air quality, the implementation of the legal document and action plans still faces many shortcomings and challenges.

As major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are experiencing severe air pollution, the responsibilities of relevant agencies and local leaders must be clearly defined, and immediate actions must be taken, he said.

The Deputy PM said the government would provide maximum support to localities in implementing measures to reduce air pollution while closely monitoring the progress of these solutions.

In his presentation, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh stated that air pollution in major urban areas has been a growing issue in recent years, particularly in the two key economic zones around Hanoi in the north and Ho Chi Minh City in the south.

Air pollution which often gets worse during the winter-spring months is caused by primary pollutants such as road dust, PM10, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) mostly stemming from transportation activities, including road dust, emissions from old and deteriorated vehicles, outdated diesel trucks, and trucks carrying construction materials.

In addition, industrial production activities, construction projects without proper dust control measures, and open burning of waste and straw also contribute significantly to pollution levels.

To cushion the impact of air pollution, he said, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has proposed several urgent measures to improve air quality immediately.

Accordingly, authorities should monitor construction projects and enforce dust suppression measures such as mandatory shielding and water spraying. There should be stricter regulations on truck routes, enhanced control of old vehicles, and expansion of public transportation.

Efforts should be increased to wash streets, sweep dust, and install water misting systems on major roads. Stronger enforcement is needed to prevent waste and straw burning, with local governments at district and commune levels assigned clear responsibilities for oversight.

In the long term, the Ministry recommended improving policies on emission control and green transformation, completing an emissions inventory, and enforcing stricter monitoring. The government should operate a real-time warning and command system based on a comprehensive database of pollution sources, technical solutions, and automatic monitoring technologies for major emission sources.

Furthermore, the development of an environmentally friendly and intelligent public transport system should be prioritized. Investment in air quality monitoring, forecasting, and warning systems should be increased, while enhancing data exchange, information sharing, and collaboration among ministries, agencies, and localities.

At the meeting, delegates discussed effective air pollution reduction experiences from major cities worldwide, like Beijing (China). These measures included strictly controlling emissions, transitioning to clean energy, promoting public transportation and electric vehicles, increasing urban greenery, and applying pollution monitoring technologies.

Representatives from Hai Phong and Da Nang shared their experiences in controlling air pollution. Among the measures taken are establishing an air quality monitoring network, creating a list of projects discouraged from investment due to pollution risks, regularly assessing the pollution levels of industrial production facilities, and implementing green transitions for public transportation.

The localities also encourage businesses to switch industrial furnaces from coal and diesel to liquefied gas or electricity, develop eco-industrial zones, and plan designated areas for construction waste disposal.

Hanoi records world’s second-worst air pollution today

VOV.VN - Air pollution in Hanoi showed no improvement on the morning of February 11, as the capital remained among the world's most polluted cities with an Air Quality Index (AQI) ranging from 151 to 200.