Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – It is necessary to increase tree coverage to reduce the effect of heat-inducedproblems and increase the absorption of greenhouse gas emissions in urban areas,contributing to realising the target of net-zero emissions by 2050, according toDr. Nguyen Tuan Quang, Deputy Director of the Department of Climate Changeunder the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
Sectors and localities should promotethe efficient use of energy, apply renewable energy solutions in production,traffic and urban lighting as well as recycling waste and wastewater in linewith the circular model, and producing energy from waster, he said while mentioning solutions to ensure urban developmentassociated with environmental protection and climate change adaptation.
Quang also highlighted the needto upgrade traffic works in areas vulnerable to climate change, construct buildings and urban areas in accordance with green standards and close tonature, and apply energy efficiency standards in buildings.
Echoing Quang's view,Mai Quoc Buu, from Van Lang University, said green projects must be designed inthe direction of reducing energy and intensifying the adoption of clean and green energy.
Reports showed that Vietnam has more than 860 urban areas and the urbanisation rate has increased to nearly 40/% in 2021.
Urban areas are importantdriving force for socio-economic development, speed up economic restructuring towardsindustrialisation and modernisation. However, the rapid development of urbanareas leads to overpopulation, increase economic development activities, hightraffic density and high energy consumption, therefore, they are a huge sourceof greenhouse gas emissions - the cause of climate change.
Dr. Architect Ngo Minh Hung andAssociate Professor Le Thi Kim Oanh from the Van Lang University said that thestrong urbanisation process in developing countries has led to worseningenvironmental pollution, adding that the impacts of climate change make urbangovernance more difficult. Scarcity of water supply, heat, urban flooding andwastewater-related issues have been affecting the lives and socio-economic inurban areas, they said./.
