Hanoi is taking synchronous solutions to reduce fine dust concentration in the air for improving air quality as citizens in Vietnam’s capital city as well as many other major cities in Asia are suffering from widespread air pollution, local media reported.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.
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In order to improve air quality, the city has now completed the plan of planting one million new trees. It will apply higher emission standards of EURO 4, EURO 5 by 2020 and use cleaner fuels to curb pollutant concentrations in emissions, Thai said.
The city has also applied concerted 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, strengthening 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.
In addition, Hanoi 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.
