By Joe Fotalattee
Hoang Duong Tung, chairman of the Vietnam Clean Air Partnership, told Vietnam News Agency that significant air pollution is a major issue in many cities. Roughly a third of the days in major northern cities like Hanoi have poor or bad air quality index (AQI) levels. The AQI rose on several days to the dangerous levels of 201-300.
According to Tung, there are many causes of air pollution in Vietnam, including traffic, construction, industrial manufacturing, and customs from rural communities such as burning straw after the rice harvest. Traffic, construction projects, industrial parks, and factories increase the amount of fine dust that causes air pollution, according to Tung.
He put forth many ideas to deal with the problem of air pollution, such as tightening emission regulations for cars and motorcycles and encouraging the use of clean-fuel vehicles, electric cars, and electric motorcycles. He also suggested promoting the use of public transportation, such as buses, trams, and the metro, to lessen the number of cars on the road. To further reduce air pollution, local authorities must exercise better control over industrial production processes, construction activities, and garbage burning.
According to Nguyen Hung Thinh, deputy director of the Vietnam Environment Administration under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), it is crucial to perfect the system of policies to manage air quality to reduce air pollution.
Organizations causing excessive dust pollution should be thoroughly inspected and severely punished under Government’s Decree 08. Additionally, by 2030, they should encourage people to stop using conventional coal stoves by implementing hygienic waste treatment techniques.