Strongly handle the problem of air pollution
The National Assembly's resolution to protect the environment and limit pollution is one of the tasks that the Government needs to implement next year. Along with that, the Government is assigned to continue reviewing and adjusting in accordance with the roadmap for applying emission standards for cars and motorbikes in circulation in Vietnam.
The request was made by the National Assembly in the context of increasing air pollution in big cities, especially Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In Hanoi alone, in the fourth quarter of 2024 and January 2025, the capital recorded many days with a very bad air quality index (AQI).
According to research, the rate of dust pollution contributed by transportation activities ranges from 20% to 60%.
According to the State of Global Air 2024 report, air pollution is the cause of premature death for more than 8.1 million people each year, far surpassing the effects of tobacco and behind only high blood pressure. Of these, PM2.5 fine dust accounts for 7.8 million deaths, related to cardiovascular disease, stroke, COPD, diabetes and lung cancer. Children under 5 years old and the elderly are the groups most severely affected.
According to Associate Professor, Dr. Dam Hoang Phuc (Hanoi University of Science and Technology), the parallel relationship between air pollution and climate change - two global challenges that originate from burning fossil fuels. From a scientific and practical perspective, he emphasized that the emergence of transportation electrification as a strategic solution brings double benefits: both helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improving urban air quality.
Experts affirm that electric vehicles are not only an inevitable global trend, but also an opportunity for Vietnam to achieve the Net Zero goal, protect public health and develop a green auto industry.
Vehicle electrification needs to be considered a pillar in Vietnam's sustainable transportation strategy, along with incentive finance policies, investment in charging station infrastructure, greening the power grid and raising public awareness. Only then can Vietnam turn dual challenges into opportunities, towards a greener, cleaner and healthier future.
By 2030, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will have 100% of public transport vehicles using clean energy
That is one of the contents in Decision No. 2530/QD-TTg dated November 19, 2025 of the Prime Minister approving the National Action Plan on overcoming pollution and managing air quality for the period 2026 - 2030, with a vision to 2045, signed by Party Central Committee member, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha.
According to the plan and goal for the 2026-2030 period, control, prevent and gradually overcome air pollution, improve air pollution in key economic areas, focus on solving air pollution in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces, enhance the capacity to prevent and control air quality nationwide, contribute to protecting public health, building a green economy and sustainable growth.
By 2030, the quality of the air environment nationwide will be gradually controlled and improved.
In Hanoi, the average annual PM2.5 dust concentration by 2030 will reach below 40 μg/m3 (down 20% compared to the average in 2024) at measuring points of national air quality monitoring stations; other air quality parameters will be maintained, ensuring compliance with national technical standards on the environment. The ratio of days in a year with a good and average air quality index (VN_AQI) reaches at least 80%.
For the provinces around Hanoi (including: Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Phong, Ninh Binh), the average PM2.5 dust concentration in 2030 will decrease by at least 10% compared to the average in 2024. For Ho Chi Minh City and other urban areas nationwide, the VN_AQI index for each year is better than the previous year.
100% of major emission sources of production types with high risk of air pollution: Cement, thermal power, steel smelting, boilers... nationwide are strictly managed and controlled and gradually have a roadmap for emission reduction; 100% of vehicles participating in road traffic (including cars, motorbikes, motorbikes) are managed and controlled for emissions according to the roadmap for applying national technical standards and regulations on emissions of vehicles participating in road traffic.
The urban transport infrastructure system has been completed synchronously, meeting the orientation of gradually increasing the ratio of green transport and public transport; the public transport system has been invested in, upgraded, and converted to using clean energy, green energy, and environmentally friendly; provinces and cities have implemented the conversion and upgrading of public transport according to Decision No. 876/QD-TTg dated July 22, 2022 of the Prime Minister on approving the Action Program on green energy conversion, reducing carbon emissions and methane emissions of the transport sector.
For Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City by 2030, 100% of public transport vehicles using clean energy, green energy, and environmentally friendly; promulgate and organize the implementation of policies to encourage and support means of transporting goods and passengers in the form of technology vehicles to be supported to convert to clean, green, and environmentally friendly energy.
