Hanoi should seek int'l expertise in tackling environmental challenges: Expert

Hanoi's environmental protection is not only based on internal resources but also needs international experience and cooperation, according to Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment Mai Trong Thai.

"In recent years, environmental protection has increasingly focused on links between localities and regions and international cooperation. Many legal documents have been issued to prevent, reduce and tackle environmental problems," Thai said.

In a related move, the French Embassy in Hanoi hosted the signing ceremony of two Franco-Vietnamese agreements on air quality improvement. Thus, the agreement on cooperation in the field of environmental protection in Hanoi has established a partnership between the Hanoi People's Committee and the French Embassy to promote cooperation in sustainable urban development, especially in improving the city's air quality.

Thai said the agreements have contributed to Hanoi's sustainable development and to Vietnam and France's fight against climate change.

An air monitoring station in Cau Giay District, Hanoi. Photo: Minh Quan/ The Hanoi Times

"In addition, Hanoi has reviewed and adjusted the planning of the city's air monitoring network in cooperation with the French Development Agency (AFD). To date, 35 automatic air monitoring stations have been installed, managed and operated," added Thai.

The monitoring data is continuously updated on the web portal of the Hanoi People's Committee and the Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment and sent to 15 media and television stations to raise people's awareness of environmental protection.

The official said that Hanoi is always focusing on strengthening solid waste management. In order to reduce plastic waste, city authorities must strengthen management, enterprises must strengthen environmental protection, and people must increase their sense of responsibility.

Another example of the international cooperaiton is betwen Hanoi an the Ile-de-France region, France. They focused on reducing waste and plastic in construction projects to improve people's quality of life. 

Hanoi and the Ile-de-France region share the same vision of promoting green urbanism, prioritizing environmental protection and high quality of urban life. Both Hanoi and Ile-de-France prioritize reducing waste and plastic use in construction projects to improve the quality of life for their citizens.

"Ile-de-France plans to work with Hanoi to study sustainable development, implement waste management policies for specific projects, and establish "zero-waste markets" with the participation of the French start-up business community," Thai said.

Both France and Hanoi prioritize green spaces in urban planning, aiming to harmonize traditional and modern elements with the environment and the economy.

Hanoi will propose to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) to continue improving and issuing regulations on environmental protection techniques for solid waste, financial incentives for recovery, recycling and reuse of plastic waste, Thai shared.

For its part, the MoNRE has received guidance and support from the French government through AFD in climate change mitigation activities, environmental management and protection, water resources and river basin management.

In particular, in the area of water resources management, MoNRE has drawn a lot of valuable experience from AFD's river basin management model.

Strengthening regional linkages in environmental protection and climate change response is one of the solutions that Vietnam has implemented to promote local strengths, manage and use resources in an economical, efficient, and sustainable way.