Hanoi suffers bad air quality recently. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The US’s experience in environmental management andair quality control in Vietnam were touched upon at a seminar in Hanoi onJanuary 25.
The event, themed “Solving the air quality crisis: from the US to Vietnam,” wasjointly held by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), theenvironmental protection agency under the Hanoi Department of Natural Resourcesand Environment, and Live & Learn Centre.
Dr. Le Bich Thuy from the Hanoi University of Science and Technology pointedout the harmful impact of air pollution on human health and life, and calledfor joint efforts to find suitable measures to tackle the problem.
Le Thanh Thuy, from the environmental protection agency, said givenenvironmental challenges, Hanoi has increased investments in waste control andtreatment.
Eric Wolvovsky, an expert from the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,introduced the US’s adequate and strict policies and laws on environmentalprotection.
Air quality in the capital city of Hanoi fell to dangerous levels in the firstweek of the New Year, particularly in inner city areas, according to theDepartment of Natural Resources and Environment.
The air quality index (AQI) figures have been reported to the municipalPeople's Committee who are working with relevant agencies to identify thecauses of the pollution and for measures to improve air quality.
Results from 35 air quality monitoring stations in the city showed that the AQItended to increase from January 1, and rose sharply up on the morning ofJanuary 5, hit the peak warning level of 5/6.
From December 29 to December 31, 2020, most of the stations showed that the AQIwas good or medium level.
However, from January 1, 2021, the air quality tended to drop sharply, somelocations including the Environmental Protection Department, the People'sCommittee of Minh Khai Ward, and the French Embassy.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked ministries and People’s Committees ofcentrally-run cities and provinces to step up the implementation of programmesand tasks on air quality control.
The move aims to intensify the control of air pollution, ease its impact onpeople’s health and spur socio-economic development.
In a recently-issued directive, the Government leader emphasised the need toreview law enforcement and the control of dust and emissions at industrialfacilities as well as from transport and construction activities.
He also ordered the suspension of the facilities that cause seriousenvironmental pollution./.
VNA
