Vietnam contributes solutions to reduce air pollution
Key measures proposed included promoting clean energy transitions to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, developing sustainable transportation, cutting emissions from motor vehicles, managing industrial and household waste efficiently, and having stricter regulations on industrial emissions control.
Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong (L) and other Vietnamese delegates at the second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health in Cartagena, Colombia. (Photo:: the Ministry of Health).
Havana (VNA)🌌 – A Vietnamese delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong, has actively contributed significant initiatives at the second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health in Cartagena, Colombia, affirming Vietnam's proactive role in addressing this global issue.
Held from March 25-27, the event brought together senior leaders from many countries around the world to seek strategic solutions for tackling air pollution and protecting public health. It focused on assessing the health impacts of air pollution, especially on vulnerable populations.
Vietnamese delegates joined global health leaders and environmental experts to discuss solutions to reduce air pollution. Key measures proposed included promoting clean energy transitions to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, developing sustainable transportation, cutting emissions from motor vehicles, managing industrial and household waste efficiently, and having stricter regulations on industrial emissions control.
Delegates shared a common view that global efforts remain insufficient to tackle the air pollution crisis, which threatens public health.
Colombian Deputy Minister of Health Jaime Urrego stressed that air pollution is not an isolated issue but a consequence of a development model reliant on fossil fuels, exacerbating inequality and harming the planet.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution causes 7 million deaths globally per year, increases the risk of severe diseases such as lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and respiratory issues. Alarmingly, 99% of the global population breathes air with pollution levels exceeding WHO safety standards.
WHO also warns that 2.1 billion people worldwide are exposed to indoor air pollution, mainly due to the use of coal stoves, wood stoves, or high-emission heating systems. This issue is especially severe in developing countries, where many households lack access to clean energy.
Vietnam is among the countries heavily affected by air pollution, especially in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Its participation in this conference reaffirms the Government’s strong commitment to tackling air pollution and highlights Vietnam’s active role in global efforts for a cleaner environment and public health./.
Hanoi authorities are under significant pressure to improve air quality, particularly as the city rotates in and out of the top global ranking for air pollution levels, depending on routine measurements of the local environment.
In the face of the worsening air pollution, Hanoi is rolling out measures to control activities that generate emissions and dust in the locality, especially the burning of rice straw.
The northern province of Bac Giang will take more drastic actions from now to 2030 to tackle and reduce air pollution, according to Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Le O Pich.
Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, said the World Bank remains committed to working with the Vietnamese government to develop the next phase of climate resilience and transformation for the Mekong Delta.
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
