A golden opportunity for Hanoi to transform
Directive No. 20/CT-TTg dated July 12, 2025 of the Prime Minister on a number of urgent and drastic tasks to prevent and resolve environmental pollution has promptly created a "policy boost" of a breakthrough not only in Hanoi in environmental protection. This is a golden opportunity for Hanoi to look back, restructure its development strategy towards sustainability, both ensuring economic goals and effectively controlling environmental pollution.
Ms. Le Thanh Thuy - Deputy Head of the Environmental Management Department, Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment - said that Hanoi is considered a key area, which needs to be a pioneer in piloting pollution control policies, especially in transportation and industry, associated with transforming the green development model, reducing emissions and improving the quality of life for people.
The clear and strong policy framework from Directive 20/CT-TTg not only sets long-term goals but also comes with a specific roadmap and targets. This is the basis for Hanoi to plan long-term and feasible strategies and plans to achieve the goals according to the Capital Law as well as the direction of the Prime Minister - Ms. Thuy emphasized.
The Deputy Head of the Department of Environmental Management, Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment also said that increasingly high social consensus is an important driving force. The people of the capital have clearly recognized the negative impact of environmental pollution on health, thereby creating pressure for the government to act more drastically.
In addition, Hanoi has a great advantage when accessing scientific resources, green technology and global climate finance funds, opening up potential for international cooperation to implement innovative solutions.
In particular, Hanoi not only solves environmental problems for itself, but also has the responsibility to set an example and pave the way for other cities to learn.
Orientations and key solutions
Implementing Directive No. 20/CT-TTg on preventing and combating environmental pollution, the Hanoi Party Committee has directed the City People's Committee to proactively develop an Implementation Plan. This plan aims to concretize 11 general tasks at the provincial level and 9 specific tasks of Hanoi according to Directive 20. At the same time, develop a detailed roadmap, assign specific responsibilities, and a close coordination mechanism to synchronously implement annual environmental protection solutions and the 2025 - 2030 period.
Currently, the draft Plan to implement Directive 20/CT-TTg of the City People's Committee is being submitted by the Department of Agriculture and Environment to the City People's Committee for consideration and decision; in which it has been determined:
04 specific target groups by 2030 with 23 component indicators, focusing on wastewater, air - emissions, solid waste and developing a green transportation system. Notably, 15 targets reached the highest level (100%), 05 targets exceeded national requirements (treatment of urban wastewater, waste, green energy buses) and 03 specific targets of Hanoi (internal urban wastewater, reducing construction site dust).
10 key groups of contents include: Building mechanisms and policies; Improving the quality of appraisal, licensing and control of waste sources; Strengthening inspection and examination; Promoting environmental protection activities on air, water, solid waste, craft villages; Applying science and technology, digital transformation; Propaganda to raise public awareness; Mobilizing financial resources, socializing and expanding international cooperation.
Regarding the legal framework and policy mechanisms, the city plans to issue 27 documents in the period of 2025 - 2026, including 10 Resolutions of the People's Council, 03 Decisions of the People's Committee, 12 mechanisms and policies submitted to the People's Council and the People's Committee of the city issued according to their authority and 02 specialized regulations. At the same time, it is recommended that the Central Government issue 04 documents so that localities have a basis to effectively implement the Directive. The plan also proposes 27 priority programs and tasks until 2030, assigned to 12 units to preside over implementation.
This is a golden opportunity for Hanoi to create a strong change in environmental protection. If not fully utilized, the capital will miss a valuable opportunity to make a breakthrough, said Ms. Thuy.
According to Ms. Le Thanh Thuy, to realize the goals, the city needs to take drastic action, not let the indicators stop at the document, clearly assign responsibilities, link environmental results with assessing the level of task completion of each level and each sector, especially promoting the responsibility of the leader. At the same time, proactively take a step forward, building Hanoi into a "Green Capital" of Southeast Asia.
