WHO Says Vietnam’s Air Quality Gets Worse, Urging More Actions

The air quality in Vietnam had become worse in late September, compared to that in the same period of several previous years, World Health Organization (WHO)’s Chief Representative in Vietnam Kidong Park cited recent data as saying in an interview with the local newswire VnExpress. Given the fact that Vietnam annually records over 60,000 deaths due to air pollution-related diseases, Mr. Park recommended the country (i) boost implementation of the government’s action plan on air quality management by 2020, vision to 2025, (ii) enhance air quality observation systems and publicize data, (iii) carry out urgent measures to limit emissions from industrial projects, transport, and waste treatment, (iv) build a long-term plan on the issue. Recently, the air quality in Vietnam’s big cities, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, has reached the alarming rates. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) said heat inversion is a major cause for the problem. (VnExpress, VnExpress)