Emphasizing the close partnership between Vietnam and the two organizations, the Deputy PM acknowledged the important contributions made by UNDP and WHO to Vietnam’s development in recent years, particularly in supporting policy development, institutional reform and sustainable development programmes.

Ha said Vietnam desires to continue working closely with UNDP and WHO and to exchange views and promote new initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation in the coming period.

Regarding issues discussed at the meeting, he said Vietnam has conducted initial assessments of sources of air pollution nationwide as well as in major cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The structure of emission sources is similar to that of many developing countries, and particularly comparable to Beijing, China.

Industry accounts for about 27% of emissions, transport about 25%, construction around 20%, while about 6% comes from other sources such as open burning of rice straw and waste. Fine particulate matter PM2.5 is currently the main pollutant.

According to the Deputy PM, reducing air pollution requires tackling emission sources at their source, including transport, industry, construction activities, agricultural waste and urban waste. Measures need to be implemented in coordination, ranging from urban planning and relocating industrial facilities away from urban areas, to shifting transport from fossil-fuel vehicles to electric vehicles or developing underground transport systems, as well as applying construction standards and using agricultural by-products such as rice straw instead of burning them.

Vietnam is currently seeking a comprehensive policy solution that is cross-sectoral and interregional. However, beyond policy development, mobilizing resources for implementation is a major challenge. Consideration must also be given to people’s livelihoods and mobility needs, which will require shifts in technology and management methods.

Tran Hong Ha said more comprehensive assessments are needed on the damage caused by air pollution, particularly in terms of healthcare costs and broader socio-economic impacts. Comparing the cost of treating pollution-related diseases with investments in solutions such as technological transition, changes in transport systems or waste treatment could provide stronger grounds for promoting necessary policies and actions.

Welcoming constructive comments from the UNDP and WHO representatives, Ha said Vietnam could consider selecting Hanoi as a pilot location, with support and participation from international organizations, to develop a model for air pollution control that could later be expanded to other localities.

He also welcomed proposals from UNDP and WHO to organize a thematic forum on air pollution and expressed hope to connect with international experts, including specialists from China, to exchange experience on designing monitoring systems and managing transport.

For their part, Ramla Khalidi and Angela Pratt thanked the Deputy PM  for the meeting and said air pollution has been one of the areas in which UNDP and WHO have cooperated with Vietnamese ministries and agencies, particularly the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

UNDP and WHO are currently supporting Vietnam in five main areas related to air pollution: improving policies and legal frameworks; developing monitoring and early warning systems; research and emission inventories; communication and public awareness; and linking air pollution control measures with sustainable development goals, including nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and the roadmap for low-carbon economic development.

Ramla Khalidi affirmed that although resources remain limited amid global uncertainties, UNDP continues to mobilize and use available resources effectively to support efforts to improve air quality in Vietnam.

Vietnam works closely with WHO to guard against Nipah virus

VOV.VN - Vietnam is working closely with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and international partners to strengthen preparedness and prevent the possible spread of the Nipah virus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.