Applying technological solutions to control air pollution

(Chinhphu.vn) – Installing 50 more air quality sensors in Hanoi and neighboring provinces; issuing air quality forecasts within 48 hours; researching and building air quality forecast models within 5-7 days; using drones to detect pollution... are specific solutions that will be deployed to respond to air pollution in the coming time.

9 groups of tasks, solutions and 25 priority projects will be deployed to overcome air pollution.

This is the information shared by Deputy Director of the Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Thi Thien Phuong at the seminar "Joining hands to protect blue sky - challenges and solutions" held on September 10.

According to statistics from the Department of Environment (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), air pollution in Hanoi tends to last from September-October of the previous year to April of the following year. On average, the number of days with a good air quality index (AQI) in Hanoi accounts for only about 22% of the total number of days in a year. Many days have an AQI exceeding 200, which is at the "very bad" level, meaning that everyone is at risk of health effects, especially sensitive groups such as the elderly, children, and people with respiratory diseases. At its peak at the end of 2024, there were days when Hanoi recorded an AQI of up to 246.

Deputy Director of the Department of Environment Nguyen Thi Thien Phuong analyzed that the direct cause of air pollution comes from Vietnam's transport and industrial structure. Currently, the country has more than 77 million motorbikes and nearly 7 million cars. Most of these are vehicles using gasoline and diesel engines that have been used for many years, have low efficiency, and emit high emissions. In addition, construction activities and heavy industry, with 26 coal-fired thermal power plants and 60 cement factories concentrated in the North, continue to maintain great pressure on the atmosphere.

Faced with this reality, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is drafting a National Action Plan on Air Quality Management for the 2025-2030 period, with a vision to 2045, with many specific goals for localities. In particular, Hanoi aims to reduce the number of bad AQI days by 20% and reduce PM2.5 concentrations by 20% by 2030 compared to 2024. Neighboring provinces such as Bac Ninh , Thai Nguyen, and Hai Phong must reduce fine dust by at least 10%, while Ho Chi Minh City and other urban areas aim for continuous improvement.

According to Chairman of the Vietnam Clean Air Network Hoang Duong Tung, Vietnam has a favorable opportunity to address air pollution. Firstly, public awareness of the status and impact of air pollution is quite high and there is determination from all levels and sectors, demonstrated through the Law on Environmental Protection, national action plans, green transformation strategies that do not sacrifice the environment for economic development... Lessons learned from other countries and implementation experiences that can be applied in Vietnam (electrification of means of transport, low emission zones, public transport, fuel conversion, treatment technology, carbon credits, etc.). In addition, the development of science and technology based on digital platforms IOT, AI, waste treatment technology, monitoring technology, etc. is increasingly developing.

25 priority projects to overcome air pollution

In the immediate future, implementing the Prime Minister's direction on implementing solutions to address air pollution, focusing on the Hanoi city area in the last months of 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment assigned units to carry out urgent tasks.

Specifically, the Department of Environment will coordinate with the Hanoi People's Committee and the People's Committees of neighboring provinces to identify at least 100 locations to install sensor systems to quickly measure air quality, in order to provide accurate data for monitoring, forecasting, and early warning so that the community knows which areas are polluted. Priority will be given to areas near pollution sources, densely populated areas, hospitals, and schools. The goal is to install about 50 sensors in Hanoi and neighboring provinces by the end of September, in areas likely to be affected by large emissions from industrial activities, open burning of agricultural by-products, and traffic activities.

Deputy Director of the Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Thi Thien Phuong presented specific solutions to be implemented immediately to overcome air pollution - Photo: VGP/Thu Cuc

The Department is also coordinating with Vietnam Television to provide information on the air quality index in Hanoi and some air quality forecasts for the next 48 hours; coordinating with the Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change to research and build a model to forecast air quality for 5-7 days.

The Remote Sensing Department is responsible for using drones to monitor burning conditions in agricultural areas and large construction sites in Hanoi to identify and provide early warning of large waste burning areas and construction sites that cause large dust emissions and to provide information to the media.

In particular, the Department of Environment is advising the Ministry to urgently complete and submit to the Prime Minister for promulgation the Roadmap for applying national technical standards on emissions for cars, motorbikes and scooters in circulation, focusing initially on two major cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. This is a policy with a very large social impact, but it is an inevitable and important step to control one of the small, scattered and difficult-to-control emission sources in urban areas. Besides solving air pollution, it also contributes to building a civilized and modern urban area.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thien Phuong, in order for the air quality improvement to be truly profound and effective, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment cannot act alone, but needs coordination between sectors and localities to synchronously deploy solutions to control emission sources, especially between Hanoi and neighboring provinces in the Red River Delta.

In addition, the business community needs to support research and application of technologies in modern monitoring and forecasting activities, advanced emission treatment solutions; invest heavily in green economy, circular economy, especially the development of electric transport ecosystem, clean energy, contributing to creating transformation momentum for the whole society; strengthen connections, bring experiences, technologies and green financial resources from international partners to Vietnam; spread messages and promote environmental protection actions in the community.

Ms. Phuong added that to reduce air pollution, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Department of Environment are focusing on perfecting institutions and policies of strategic and long-term significance. This includes submitting to the Prime Minister for promulgation the "National Action Plan on Pollution Remediation and Air Quality Management for the 2025-2030 period, with a vision to 2045".

The plan sets out clear quantitative goals and targets, along with 9 groups of tasks, solutions and 25 priority projects, with specific responsibilities assigned to each ministry, branch and locality, ensuring the Prime Minister's 6 clear principles: "Clear people, clear work, clear time, clear responsibility, clear authority and clear results".

Thu Cuc

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/ap-dung-cac-giai-phap-cong-nghe-de-kiem-soat-o-nhiem-khong-khi-102250910143211445.htm