Clean air for blue skies

Photo caption — Mr. Huynh Thanh Dat, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Education Commission, delivered the opening speech at the event. Photo: Phuong Hoa/VNA

At the event, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission Huynh Thanh Dat emphasized: Protecting the air environment is not only an urgent requirement but also a long-term responsibility for the health of the race and the development of the country.

We need to synchronously deploy solutions and promote the pioneering role of cadres and party members in mobilizing people and businesses to join hands to act for the living environment, Mr. Huynh Thanh Dat suggested.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh, the Ministry is stepping up air quality monitoring and warning; publicizing data to the community; controlling emission sources, promoting green transport, clean industry and smart infrastructure to reduce pollution at the source.

Representatives of international organizations, Ms. Ramla Khalidi (UNDP) and Ms. Angela Pratt (WHO) expressed their affection for Hanoi and affirmed their commitment to continue accompanying and supporting Vietnam to overcome the challenge of air pollution, towards a healthy future for all people.

Representing the capital city government, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen said that the capital city is implementing many synchronous solutions to control pollution and green transformation in traffic, aiming for zero net emissions by 2050. The city has identified controlling emissions from traffic as a key task. Implementing the direction of the Central and the Government, Hanoi has issued an Air Quality Management Plan until 2030 and Plan 267 to implement Prime Minister 's Directive 20 on preventing and handling environmental pollution.

Notably, Hanoi is implementing a roadmap for green transformation of public transport, with the goal of having 100% of buses use clean energy by 2030 - a move that demonstrates a strong commitment to reducing emissions and building a green lifestyle for people.

Along with perfecting policies, the city has increased monitoring, forecasting and publicizing air quality data, while developing an early warning network and promoting propaganda to help people change their living and moving habits to be more environmentally friendly.

Representatives of international organizations, Ms. Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam and Ms. Angela Pratt, WHO Representative in Vietnam, highly appreciated the strong commitment of the Vietnamese Government in implementing sustainable development goals, especially efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, towards net zero emissions by 2050, and expressed their good feelings and love for the capital city of Hanoi.

Affirming that Vietnam is on the right track in integrating environmental protection goals with socio-economic development, expanding urban green areas, encouraging green transportation and clean energy conversion, creating a comprehensive, balanced and humane development model, representatives of international organizations pledged to closely coordinate and support Vietnam's efforts in overcoming challenges of air pollution, towards a good, healthy future for everyone.

During the event, delegates performed a ceremony to connect air quality measurement data from the sensor system to the national monitoring network, helping people easily monitor information every day. Also at the program, there was a ceremony to pledge to join hands for Vietnam's blue sky; a walking activity to convey the message of using green means of transport to reduce emissions.

Delegates and people also visited the exhibition of propaganda paintings "For the blue sky of Vietnam" made by Hanoi children; signed a commitment and spread the strong message "For Every Breath".

Air pollution is now considered one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and many other dangerous diseases. This situation is negatively affecting public health, reducing labor productivity and causing great losses to the economy.

In Vietnam, especially in the capital Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and many large cities, air pollution is increasing due to transportation, construction activities, industry, craft villages, burning of straw, household waste, etc. In addition, the terrain and weather conditions in the Northern region also contribute to the serious decline in air quality at many times of the year.

The event "Clean Air for Blue Sky" demonstrates Vietnam's determination to join the international community in implementing its commitment to protecting the environment, improving air quality, and aiming for zero net emissions by 2050; and raising awareness across society about people's right to breathe clean air.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/xa-hoi/khong-khi-sach-cho-bau-troi-xanh-20251101155022403.htm