Vietnam Hanoi Environment Dep’t Hosts Seminar on Air Pollution

The Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment last Friday hosted a seminar titled “Understand correctly about Hanoi Air Pollution –Authorities’ and Residents’ actions.” The department collaborated with Vietnam Clean Air Partnership and Live & Learn Center in organizing the event. Speaking at the event, Professor Hoang Xuan Co from Hanoi University of Science under the Vietnam National University explained that 30% of the pollution cause came from within Hanoi and the rest came from neighboring provinces and over the border. A representative of the Hanoi environmental department said that the city has so far installed ten air monitoring stations throughout the city along with a plan to install up to 33 monitoring stations. The city has stepped up its efforts in treating garbage. The city has also planned to provide one-to-two-day air quality prediction in the weather forecast from next year. Meanwhile, Dr. Kidong Park from the World Health Organization urged the government to take actions to lower air pollution. World Bank official Nguyen Thi Le Thu said the organization was studying air pollution causes in several cities of seven nations, including China, Egypt, South Africa and Vietnam. In Vietnam, besides Hanoi, the WB is conducting studies in the two northern provinces of Hung Yen and Bac Ninh. Based on its findings, it hopes to suggest solutions to help the localities improve their air quality. (Nhan Dan, Dan Tri, Tin Tuc, Dan Tri, Dan Tri, haiquanonline, VnEconomy, Nhan Dan)