Hanoi proposes tightening emission control, expanding low emission zones

The Hanoi People's Committee has just completed collecting public opinions on the draft Regulations on implementing low emission zones (LEZ) in the city. Notably, this draft has adjusted the roadmap and scope of implementation earlier than Resolution 47/2024 of the City People's Council, in order to comply with Directive No. 20 of the Prime Minister on preventing and solving environmental pollution.

Accelerate the roadmap and expand the scope

According to Resolution 47/2024, Hanoi plans to pilot the LEZ in some areas of the old Hoan Kiem and Ba Dinh districts from 2025 to 2030, and then gradually expand it. However, the new draft has accelerated this roadmap to 5 years and significantly expanded the scope of application.

Specifically, from July 1, 2026, the low emission zone will be implemented in Ring Road 1. By January 1, 2028, the scope will be expanded to Ring Road 2 and from January 1, 2030, the entire area within Ring Road 3 will have to comply with emission regulations. At the same time, the city also encourages other communes and wards to proactively build and apply the low emission zone model. This shows that Hanoi's determination is not limited to the central areas but also towards a wider scope of pollution control throughout the area.

Air pollution in Hanoi is increasingly worrying. (Photo: TL)

From 2031, any area in the city that meets one of the three important criteria in Article 4 of Resolution 47 will be required to implement a low-emission zone.

These criteria include: first, areas in strictly protected areas and emission-restricted areas according to the Capital Planning to 2030, vision to 2050, mainly 12 old inner-city districts such as Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung and other districts. Second, areas with frequent traffic congestion from level D to F according to TCVN 13592:2022 on urban road design - places where traffic has become difficult or completely blocked. The third criterion is areas where the average annual air quality (assessed over at least the most recent year) does not meet the current National Technical Regulations on air quality, especially with key parameters such as SO₂, NO₂, total suspended particulate matter (TSP), PM10 dust and PM2.5 dust. Specifying these criteria helps to clearly identify "hot spots" that need priority pollution control.

Tightening of polluting vehicles and policies to support conversion

To ensure the effectiveness of the low emission zone, the draft sets out strict regulations for vehicles. Accordingly, heavy-duty diesel trucks will be banned from operating in LEZ areas; and motorbikes and scooters using fossil fuels will be banned. For cars that do not meet level 4 emission standards, the city will apply measures to discourage, restrict or prohibit their circulation according to specific time frames, times or areas. These are strong measures that directly affect the travel and vehicle usage habits of people and businesses.

In addition to the restrictive regulations, the Hanoi People's Committee will also propose to issue fees and charges for high-emission road vehicles or vehicles that are not encouraged to circulate in low-emission zones. The aim is to create more economic incentives for people and businesses to switch. At the same time, the city will research and develop policies to support people living and working in the LEZ, as well as organizations and businesses that convert their vehicles from using fossil fuels to using clean energy or zero-emission vehicles. These support policies are expected to reduce difficulties and promote the process of switching to sustainable vehicles.

This draft resolution is expected to be submitted to the City People's Council for consideration and approval at the end of 2025 and will take effect from 2026. This is a strategic move, demonstrating Hanoi's commitment to improving the living environment.

In fact, the air pollution situation in Hanoi is at an alarming level. According to the National Environmental Status Report 2016-2020, the average annual concentration of PM2.5 dust in the city has exceeded the national technical standards by nearly two times, while the average annual concentration of PM10 dust exceeds the Vietnamese standard limit by 1.3 to 1.6 times. The city has identified the main source of air pollution as emissions from road vehicles, accounting for 58-74% depending on the time, with motorbikes being the main source of emissions, followed by trucks and taxis, along with road dust.

Statistics from the Department of Transport (now the Department of Construction) show that by the end of 2024, Hanoi will have over 9.2 million vehicles in operation, not including vehicles of central agencies, including 1.1 million cars and more than 6.9 million motorbikes. In addition, there are about 1.2 million private cars and motorbikes from other provinces and cities regularly circulating in the area. These figures clearly illustrate the pollution pressure the city is facing, and the importance of upcoming emission control measures.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/ha-noi-de-xuat-siet-chat-kiem-soat-khi-thai-mo-rong-vung-phat-thai-thap-215944.html