Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has directed the People’s Committees of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to urgently implement solutions to combat air pollution, with the goal of bringing the Air Quality Index (AQI) to safe levels for human health within five years.

On April 4, the Government Office issued an official notice summarizing the Deputy Prime Minister’s conclusions during a recent meeting on comprehensive and urgent solutions to address urban air pollution.

At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha instructed both cities to immediately implement a five-year and annual action plan, including a full emissions inventory and an environmental status assessment. Each sector must be assigned specific emission reduction targets annually, similar to how socio-economic indicators are tracked and evaluated.

Cities must promptly introduce policies to support waste collection and recycling, particularly for construction waste. They are also encouraged to promote public transportation, and support the transition to low-emission, eco-friendly vehicles.

Additionally, the Deputy Prime Minister called for the issuance and enforcement of local emission standards that are stricter than national standards by May 2025.

He emphasized the need for a green transition in public transport, including traffic flow management, the elimination of outdated and high-emission vehicles, and researching low-emission zones to be implemented when feasible.

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are also required to strictly manage emissions from construction and urban development, with emphasis on dust and gas control from waste processing, transport, and demolition activities.

Remote monitoring technologies must be employed to continuously oversee construction, waste collection, transport, dumping, treatment, and recycling across all worksites and city zones.

Violators must be swiftly identified and strictly penalized, with an urgent call to revise and toughen administrative penalties, and empower ward-level and grassroots law enforcement agencies with greater sanctioning authority.

Furthermore, both cities must enhance environmental compliance monitoring and inspections, especially for businesses, and relocate outdated industrial clusters to designated industrial parks. These proposals should be submitted to competent authorities for approval.

The Deputy Prime Minister also stressed the need to expand air quality monitoring networks, ensure public access to environmental data, and boost environmental awareness campaigns targeting residents and businesses to promote compliance with environmental regulations.

The Vinh