Hanoi pioneers in building green cities

Hanoi builds a roadmap to control emissions, develop green transport and use clean fuels, towards a low-emission, sustainable urban area.

On November 7, the Agriculture and Environment Newspaper in collaboration with the Department of Environment and the Department of Climate Change ( Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ) organized the Forum "Green Energy - Clean City". Hanoi, the political, economic and cultural center of the country, is facing many environmental challenges due to rapid urbanization and high population density. However, experts at the Forum said that this is also an opportunity for the city to transform towards green growth, towards the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

Ms. Le Thanh Thuy, Deputy Head of the Environmental Management Department ( Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment), spoke at the forum. Photo: Tung Dinh.

According to Ms. Le Thanh Thuy, Deputy Head of the Department of Environmental Management (Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment), Hanoi is synchronously implementing policies to encourage people to use green vehicles, while creating favorable conditions for businesses to produce and assemble electric vehicles. The city plans to apply preferential investment policies for green infrastructure, mobilize financial resources from the budget and socialization, as well as support people to buy electric vehicles at preferential prices.

The Air Quality Management Plan (Decision 1142/QD-UBND) sets out four groups and 14 key tasks, integrating emission reduction targets into urban, transport and industrial planning. Hanoi invests in an automatic air monitoring system and publicizes the AQI index in real time to help people proactively respond.

Hanoi plans to test motorbike emissions standards from July 1, 2027. Photo: Government Newspaper.

Currently, factories in Soc Son and Nam Son are converting waste into clean energy, reducing landfill rates, while solar power systems are installed in offices, schools and water treatment plants. Hanoi encourages businesses to apply energy-saving technology, reduce CO₂ emissions and promote a circular economy through recycling, reuse of waste, bioenergy production and organic fertilizers. The philosophy of “turning waste into resources” is becoming a core orientation in the capital’s sustainable development strategy.

“Identifying the construction of low-emission zones as the focus of the sustainable urbanization strategy, we plan to pilot this model in the beltway 1 area, focusing on green transportation, clean energy and smart urban management. From there, we will gradually realize the goal of becoming a low-emission and carbon-neutral city by 2050,” Ms. Thuy shared.

Hanoi City encourages people to use public transport. Photo: Vinbus .

The Deputy Head of the Department of Environmental Management affirmed: To control pollution and develop green energy effectively, there needs to be synchronous inter-sectoral coordination. On the State side, it is necessary to perfect policies to create a solid legal corridor, promote circular economy to expand renewable energy. We also need to strongly communicate the message " Hanoi - Green City, sustainable living" to spread the spirit of environmental protection to every citizen.

"In addition to strengthening the inspection and supervision of motor vehicles, the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment is building and perfecting a system of emission standards and regulations in accordance with international practices. At the same time, we encourage cooperation with international organizations, research institutes and high-tech enterprises to receive, transfer and apply solutions to reduce emissions, manage air, clean energy and smart transportation," she shared.

Hanoi is gradually realizing green transportation with a roadmap to eliminate gasoline vehicles: by 2026 in the beltway 1 area, expanding to beltway 2 in 2028 and completing the entire beltway 3 by 2030. Previously, the city eliminated 99% of honeycomb coal stoves, ended manual brick kilns, and strictly controlled industrial waste sources. At the same time, it implemented road cleaning, misting to suppress dust, applied Euro 4-5 emission standards, and developed urban railways and electric vehicles.

The city is committed to accompanying the community, businesses and authorities in building a green, clean and sustainable urban area - for the health and happiness of the people of the capital.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/ha-noi-tien-phong-xay-dung-do-thi-xanh-d782902.html