Mayor of Hanoi urges people to protect environment

Chairman of the People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh called on citizens, organizations and businesses to protect the environment and work together to make Hanoi a livable city at the launch of the "Bright - Green - Clean - Beautiful" movement on December 17.

The mayor said that urbanization and climate change have made air pollution, water pollution, household waste and green spaces challenging issues in big cities. "The government and every citizen must urgently take practical measures to protect the environment."

Tran Sy Thanh, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee speaks at the launching ceremony. Photos: The Hanoi Times

Thanh emphasized that the community's joint efforts for a "Bright - Green - Clean - Beautiful" movement in Hanoi will continue to reaffirm the tradition of solidarity and spread the elegant culture of Hanoi residents.

"Every small action, such as protecting trees or limiting the use of plastic products, will have a positive impact on environmental protection. If these habits become a way of life and a cultural trait of residents, together we will create a cleaner, friendlier and more sustainable capital," the official said.

He added that every individual, family and organization is an important factor in building a green, clean and beautiful capital. In order to achieve this goal, the city leaders called on all residents of the capital to take an active role in managing waste at the source, protecting water sources, air and the living environment, and maintaining and developing green spaces.  

Le Thanh Nam, Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said that the "Bright - Green - Clean - Beautiful" movement is a meaningful initiative that starts a new journey for Hanoi to become a symbol of sustainable development and harmony with nature.

"We will focus on three key contents namely acting with expertise and scientific solutions, mobilizing the community to join hands to protect the environment, and resolutely dealing with violations and promoting sustainable improvement," Nam stressed.

Speaking at the launching ceremony,  Pham Tuan Long, Chairman of Hoan Kiem District People's Committee, said that in recent years, the district has been selected as the unit to carry out many pilot projects on the environment. "We are committed to join hands to roll out the "Bright - Green - Clean - Beautiful" movement with concrete activities."

Delegates launch the "Bright - Green - Clean - Beautiful" movement.

"We will ensure the construction of a green, civilized and modern urban area; take practical measures such as: planting more trees, reducing waste, limiting the use of private vehicles, gradually switching to clean fuel and green transportation, and others," Long said. 

The movement sets out specific goals, including Joining hands in waste management. Each household and neighborhood will change behavior and awareness, proactively classify waste at the source, contributing to reducing waste pollution and reusing resources. It would be protecting water resources and keep the air clean. Last but not least is preserving and developing urban landscapes.

Practical action, sustainable results

The movement does not stop at the call to action, but goes hand in hand with specific, practical and effective action programs. To kick off the campaign, Hanoi will conduct environmental clean-up activities to spread the spirit of environmental protection in the community:

Program "Green Weekend": On a weekend, all government agencies, businesses, socio-political organizations, trade unions, and residential communities in the city, as well as domestic and foreign tourists, will simultaneously organize environmental cleaning activities, such as removing garbage from residential neighborhoods, workplaces, parks, lakes, and public areas.

The launching ceremony attracts  a large number of people in the capital.

Waste management at source: The city will invest in infrastructure to implement waste sorting at source, not only in households but also in residential areas, offices, schools and public spaces. Modern and advanced waste collection, transportation and treatment models will be gradually replicated in urban areas and throughout the city. Activities to collect recyclable and bulky waste will also be carried out on a regular basis.                                                                      

Revitalize Hanoi's rivers and lakes: Hanoi will deploy campaigns to clean and improve the landscape around rivers and lakes, including "River and Lake Cleaning Day" in wards/communes to involve all residents. Camera systems and water quality sensors will be installed to collect and publish data on the cleanliness and pollution of rivers and lakes. The "River Today" bulletin board will be publicly updated with weekly status.

Festivals around the lake: Community events will be organized at the lakes to raise awareness of environmental protection and promote healthy living activities, while attracting a large number of domestic and foreign tourists to join in protecting the landscape.

Regenerate public spaces along rivers and lakes: The city will build parks, clean and green public spaces along the lakes and encourage people and tourists to participate in protecting and beautifying this area. The community and tourists will be encouraged to contribute ideas and plant trees to create a clean living environment.

Green trees - Hanoi's breath: This is a campaign to improve green spaces and reduce air pollution while raising environmental awareness among Hanoi residents.