First steps taken to implement action plan on air quality

Air pollution is increasing in big cities in Vietnam. (Source: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – How to effectively implement Decision No. 985a /QD-TTg approving the national action plan on air quality management up to 2020, with a vision toward 2025, was the subject of a conference held in Hanoi on September 22.

The conference was chaired by Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan and Christophe Crepin, head of social, environmental and rural development unit, East Asia and Pacific region, World Bank.

According to Nhan, the approval of the action plan aims to boost the management of air quality via controlling sources of exhaust emission and monitoring air quality towards improving the quality of air environment and ensuring public health.

Nguyen Truong Huynh, from the Vietnam Environment Administration, said the plan aims to ensure 80 percent of steel, chemical and fertiliser manufacturing facilities meeting technical standards on dust and SO2, NOx, CO exhaust.

The plan also acts on minimising particle pollution in terms of PM10 and PM2.5 (Particulate Matter) at major sources of exhaust, mainly in industrial, energy, construction and transport sectors, while completing the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Decision 909 on controlling motorbike exhaust in provinces and cities.

Another goal of the action plan is to determine the PM10 and PM 2.5 pollution levels in big cities and increase the national capability in controlling greenhouse gas to contribute to fulfilling Vietnam’s commitment on greenhouse gas emission.

The monitoring of air quality will be strengthened by increasing the number of automated air quality measurement stations in cities.

Nguyen Huu Tien, deputy head of the Department of Environment under the Ministry of Transport, said the ministry would soon implement a road map on applying standards for motorbike exhaust, and develop national technical standards on exhaust for automobiles.-VNA