The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment released its 2013 National Environment Report in Hanoi on September 19.
Deputy Minister Bui Cach Tuyen said the annual report was developed inline with the 2005 Law on Environmental Protection, focussing onbiodiversity, urban environments, waste, and environmental standards incraft villages and industrial zones.
The 2013 reportaims to assess natural and man-made impacts on air quality; aircontamination; pollution management; and air protection measures.
Ministries, relevant sectors and localities need to step up theirefforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deal with climate change,Tuyen said.
According to the University of NaturalResources and the Environment, 3-4 percent of the entire populationsuffers from respiratory problems, predominantly caused by polluted air.
Statistics indicate that the percentage of peoplewith breathing difficulties is 4-5 times higher in rapidly evolvingcities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong than in rurallocalities like Dien Bien or Bac Kan.-VNA