The Department of Environment said that the causes of air pollution include activities from transportation, construction, industry, open burning, civil activities and climate change.
According to statistics, there are currently 6.8 million cars in circulation nationwide (Hanoi accounts for about 1.1 million cars; Ho Chi Minh City also has nearly 1 million cars in circulation).
Along with 77 million motorbikes and mopeds of all kinds in circulation (Hanoi about 5.6 million, Ho Chi Minh City about 6.3 million vehicles, Ho Chi Minh City after the merger about 8.6 million vehicles).
According to Mr. Pham Hong Quan - Department of Environment, to overcome air pollution, in the past time, the Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has been developing and submitting to the Prime Minister for approval a National Action Plan on overcoming air pollution and managing air quality for the period 2025 - 2030, with a vision to 2045.
Along with that, the Department of Environment is advising the leaders of the Ministry, as well as the Government to apply a roadmap to control emissions of cars, motorbikes and mopeds. Currently, these two roadmaps are in the final stages of completion to be submitted to the Prime Minister. These two roadmaps have just been appraised by the Ministry of Justice.
Corresponding to these two roadmaps, the Ministry has issued National Technical Regulations on emissions of cars participating in traffic. Regarding the National Technical Regulation on motorbike and motorbike emissions that is being appraised by the Ministry of Science and Technology, it is expected to meet in the next few days to complete it to submit to the Ministry's leaders for consideration and approval. It is expected to be issued in 2025.
The Department of Environment also said that to overcome air pollution, many measures have been implemented, including building a network of air monitoring sensors. Accordingly, the total expected equipment in Hanoi and 08 neighboring localities is 125 sensors. Of which, Hanoi has 76 devices, the rest are localities. Currently, 57/125 devices have been installed.
Along with that, the Department of Environment coordinated with the National Telecommunications Administration to use drones to monitor the situation of straw burning in suburban areas and spreading dust from large construction sites, and immediately transfer the results to local authorities for handling.
Coordinate with Hanoi and relevant ministries to establish surprise inspection teams at construction hotspots, traffic and areas at risk of burning waste and agricultural by-products to strictly handle violations.
According to the draft roadmap for applying the National Technical Regulation on emissions of motorbikes and mopeds (Hanoi & HCMC):
From July 1, 2027: emission inspection begins.
By January 1, 2030: all must reach Level 2 or higher.
Motorbikes and mopeds participating in traffic in the "low emission zone" in Hanoi: comply with the Resolution of the Hanoi People's Council.
