Hanoi (VNA) – With a population of over7.7 million people along with 17 industrial parks, more than 1,300 tradevillages, 5.3 million motorbikes and nearly 560,000 cars, Hanoi is sufferingfrom negative impacts caused by climate change.
To gradually reduce greenhouse gas emissions, inDecember 2015, the capital and the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group signed acooperation agreement on environmental protection and climate changeadaptation.
In October 2017, Hanoi officially joined theAmbitious City Promises project led by the Local Governments for Sustainability(ICLEI) with the commitments of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, supportingthe development of special action programmes, and increasing the role andparticipation of local governments in climate change adaptation.
Le Tuan Dinh, Deputy Director of the municipalDepartment of Natural Resources and Environment, said Hanoi was the firstlocality in the country to carry out greenhouse gas inventories.
It is estimated that the average carbon dioxide(CO2) emissions from waste in the capital will be 4,053 million tonnes by 2020,and from energy 18.2 million tonnes.
Hanoi has updated the latest climate changescenario of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment while improvingthe forecasting capacity, proactively preventing natural disasters andmitigating its damages.
The city has implemented publicawareness-raising activities and integrated response measures intosocio-economic development plans and strategies.
It has partnered with multiple organisations athome and abroad to carry out projects improving the air quality.
Hanoi is also leading in investing in and installingan air quality monitoring network while coordinating with internationalorganisations to conduct greenhouse gas inventories to build and implementeffectively measures to mitigate air pollution.
This year, the capital strives to treat sewagein all urban districts, operate effectively waste-to-power plants, and grow onemillion trees.
By 2020, the city aims to install and put intooperation 38 air monitoring stations.-VNA