In recent days, Hanoi has been continuously submerged in a thick layer of fog accompanied by fine dust, causing air quality to be at the worst to the worst level.
According to monitoring stations, the AQI index has many times exceeded the safety threshold, posing a great risk to public health.
Regarding the pollution situation in Hanoi in recent times, Ms. Le Thanh Thuy, Deputy Head of the Department of Environmental Management, Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment, said that through research, it can be seen that traffic is the main source of emissions.
Hanoi has a high density of vehicles, gasoline-powered motorbikes are circulating a lot in the area. That is part of the reason, but not all. Air pollution is a mobile, cross-border source.
Ms. Thuy pointed out two main groups of causes. The first cause is internal sources. Hanoi is like a basin, having to endure huge operations from high traffic density, high construction, high production activities, along with straw burning and garbage burning in residential areas.
"Incineration is happening in many places and we have a headache with control measures. Garbage burning is done on a small scale but is actually causing serious environmental pollution in residential areas" - Ms. Thuy said.
Regarding the remaining source, Ms. Thuy said that since 2022, the city has coordinated with the World Bank (WB) to conduct research showing that pollution in Hanoi also comes from neighboring provinces. Hanoi is like a basement, blocked around.
"We call this a polluted season, in the last months of the year, there are counter-termic conditions, Hanoi has to suffer many unfavorable conditions. This year's pollution season comes about 1-2 months later, but the frequency and severity do not change" - Ms. Thuy shared.
These factors have combined to make Hanoi suffer from severe air pollution, affecting people's health and other production activities.
Ms. Thuy said that the weather story is uncontrollable, but it is possible to introduce policies on transportation, inventory all sources of waste, and "catch" air pollution.
Therefore, Hanoi must clarify and determine how much percentage is caused by traffic, how much percentage is caused by construction activities... to focus resources on completely solving the main sources of pollution.
For example, traffic activities cause 50-70% pollution as researched by the World Bank, Hanoi will focus on solving traffic problems first. If Hanoi can solve traffic pollution, it will improve air quality.
Regarding sources of pollution from the outside, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is establishing a steering committee. In particular, Hanoi and neighboring provinces have established a steering committee, focusing on determining what the source of pollution in the area is and what is the responsibility of the whole area, each province and city. Hanoi is ready to accompany and pioneer in implementing regional solutions.
"Air pollution is a story of the country, of the region and of Hanoi itself, so we must start from within us - coordinate and join hands with other areas to solve the problem of air pollution" - Ms. Thuy said.
