Vietnam can learn from Brussels' flood prevention experience: expert
Brussels (VNA) – Vietnam can learn from and apply experience drawn from measures that have been taken by Brussels to respond to climate change, prevent floods and protect the environment, Tristan Roberti, President of the Environmental Commission at the Brussels-Capital Region, said.
Brussels has potential for renewable energy but it is
impossible to install wind power stations there due to limited space and frequent flights at
Brussels International Airport. Thus, the capital does not focus on wind power
but develop solar energy, Roberti said in a recent interview with the Vietnam News Agency.
The city has encouraged residents to install solar panels on
their roofs. It also set up an online energy map. Accordingly, people only need
to access the map, fill in their home address to know whether the roof is
suitable for installing solar panels and how they benefit from it. Businesses
and schools are motivated to install solar panels.
Roberti said Brussels authorities have also provide technical
assistance to households to install solar panels. Financial support is provided
through the issuance of "Green Certification", which allows reducing energy
prices for families, agencies and schools participating in the project.
In July, the Wallonia region - a French-speaking region in the
south of Belgium - suffered a historic flood that killed nearly 50 people. To
prevent Brussels from this situation, the capital applies rainwater collection
in a natural way, so that it penetrates deep into the ground.
In some big cities, roads are asphalted which hinder water
from seeping into the soil, causing flooding. Therefore, the city always leaves
"green areas" for water to drain easily when designing roads.
In addition to upgrading the sewer system every year, the city also built a rainwater storage tank which helps limit the
consequences caused by floods.
Regarding sustainable development, Brussels, like other
major cities, is facing three challenges, he said. The first challenge is that
the buildings have been built for a long time, not paying much attention to
environmental factors as well as energy. Currently, the city is renovating these
buildings to make them more energy-responsive.
Traffic also poses challenges for Brussels, Roberti said. The
city advocates reducing personal cars, increasing public transport, using
bicycles or walking. Brussels has now decided to stop using diesel cars by
2030 and gasoline cars by 2035. This is very important in improving air quality
in the capital.
Green space is also a problem for the city. Currently, some
streets in Brussels still lack green trees and many residential areas do not
have green parks. Thus, the city is focusing on planting more trees as the measure
does not only improve the environment and scenery of the city but also enhance
the air quality as well as the living environment of the people, he said./.