Ha Noi to set up low emission zones to improve air quality

This is a pilot plan which will be implemented in certain areas of Hoan Kiem and Ba Dinh districts from 2025 to 2030, according to a resolution approved by the Municipal People's Council on December 12.

The capital city also encourages other districts to set up LEZs, the resolution says.

From 2031, areas with one of the following criteria shall have to set up low emission zones:

Areas subject to strict protection and restricted emissions as specified in the Capital Planning Scheme through 2030, vision to 2050. Areas that are regularly congested and have air quality below the national standards.

The LEZs have to deploy measures to protect the environment like banning heavy trucks running on diesel, restricting or banning cars that do not meet the level 4 emission and motorbikes that do not meet level 2 emission at certain times or areas.

The Municipla People's Committee will put forward regulations on fees and charges for road motor vehicles circulating in the LEZs; policies to support residents living and working in the LEZs.

According to the National Environmental Status Report for 2016-2020, the average annual concentration of PM2.5 dust in Ha Noi surpasses the national technical standard limit by nearly 2 times.

Meanwhile, the average annual concentration of PM10 dust exceeds the Vietnamese standard limit by 1.3 to 1.6 times.

The main source of air pollution comes from emissions from road vehicles (motorbikes, trucks, taxis and road dust), accounting for 58-74 percent.

As of April 2024, Ha Noi has more than 8 million road vehicles, including more than 1.0 million cars and about 6.9 million motorbikes.

The number of motorbikes used for over 10 years accounts for more than 72 percent, increasing the level of toxic emissions into the air if old vehicles are not regularly maintained./.