Green transportation - comprehensive solution to Hanoi’s air pollution

Green transportation can be a comprehensive solution to Hanoi’s pollution at the moment and in the future. Therefore, Hanoi’s authorities are focusing on developing less emission traffic, the Government Portal reported.

Tram is a green transportation solution in Hanoi city. Photo: Thanh Nam

According to experts, green transportation is the transportation involving low emission means of transport which help reduce the discharge of CO2 and other harmful gases into the environment.
Sustainable transportation requires fuel efficiency and vehicle emission control with priorities given to human power, renewable energy, and compressed natural gas, among others.

Statistics from the Hanoi traffic police department show that between 2017 and 2019, the number of vehicles of all types rose year after year. As of the first quarter of 2019, there were 6.6 vehicles under the control of the department, of them, 86% are motorbikes.

Most of the buses in Hanoi only met Euro 2 and Euro 3 emission standards. Meanwhile in Europe, the current emission standards have been generally Euro 4 and even Euro 6 and 7 in some countries.

The motorized vehicles are the major source of CO2 emission which directly affect human health and living environment. Up to 70% of air pollution in urban areas emanates from transportation activities. Therefore, experts recommend that the local government and people should be aware of the impacts of motorized vehicles on the environment.
They said Hanoi should increase incentives to encourage the use of buses run on natural gas and electricity and consider the green factor one of the mandatory criteria in the public transport tender.
Besides, the municipal government should introduce measures to curb private vehicles and encourage people to use public transport, which will ensure economic efficiency and minimize obstacles for public transport when traveling on the roads.
One of the plans to develop green transportation in Hanoi is to set up an affordable bike rental network and make all urban areas accessible by public transport.
Moreover, the Hanoi government is asked to encourage public transport to use clean energy, which will help reduce environmental pollution.