Hanoi takes coherent measures to improve air quality

In recent years, the Hanoi People's Committee has taken coherent measures to improve air quality, Director of the Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Trong Dong said at a meeting on July 5.

The city has now completed the plan of planting one million trees. The preparation to apply higher emission standards of EURO 4, EURO 5 by 2020 has been in place and the use of cleaner fuels has been encouraged to curb pollutants emission, Dong said.

He added that construction works must be covered, heavy trucks and vehicles carrying materials and construction wastes must be covered with canvas and washed before entering the city’s downtown to prevent dust.

Besides, the city has treated water pollution and improve quality of lakes’ water with Redoxy-3C, accelerated the process of building waste dumps and waste incinerators with modern technology, and enhanced the collection of domestic waste.

 In addition, Hanoi has simultaneously deployed projects to improve air quality such as those related to noise and dust prevention, project on treatment of hazardous medical waste, collection and treatment of hazardous wastes. The city has strengthened management of transport means to reduce traffic congestion and environmental pollution in Hanoi city in the period of 2017-2020, with the vision to 2030.

 The city has also increased investment in public transport infrastructure (BRT buses, urban railway) and encouraged people to use public transport in a bid to curb private vehicles and reduce gas emissions.

 In order to keep improving air quality in the coming years, the local government will accelerate investment projects of environmental monitoring system and projects related to traffic in the city. 

 According to Mai Trong Thai, head of the Environment Protection Division under Hanoi's Department of Natural Resources and Environment, among the reasons for air quality degradation are the rapid urbanization, shortage of concerted infrastructure and poor management of construction.

 Air pollution is often assessed by particle matter including suspended dust, 2.5 PM, PM10 and SO2, NO2, CO, O3, CO, VOCs (volatile organic compounds). In particular, PM 2.5 is the pollutant that has the greatest impact on human health due to its ability to penetrate and remain in the lungs. AirVisual and Greenpeace has classified Hanoi among the most air polluted cities in Asia.