Zbigniew Klimont, who leads the Pollution Management Research Group in the IIASA Energy, Climate, and Environment Program, was invited to share the group's expertise in assisting cities to mitigate air pollution at a recent conference co-organized by the Hanoi People's Committee and the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) - the IIASA National Member Organization for Vietnam and its scholarly community.
© VTV1 Vietnam
Despite implementing various measures to improve its urban environment, Hanoi continues to face significant air quality challenges. Recently, the city ranked 7th out of 121 global capitals in average annual PM2.5 concentrations for 2024, highlighting the ongoing need for effective solutions. In response, Hanoi is actively seeking collaboration and support from experts, scientists, and stakeholders to address this critical issue.
At the conference Klimont presented insights from Beijing's successful efforts in reducing air pollution, emphasizing the transboundary nature of air pollution.
“The future of having blue skies every day in Hanoi requires genuine collaboration with neighboring provinces and across diverse stakeholders. Recognition of the issue's political significance and a clear strategic pathway are absolutely essential, as previously demonstrated in Beijing,” he explains.
Klimont highlighted the importance of comprehensive, multi-faceted strategies and strong political commitment in effectively addressing urban air pollution. Beijing's success stemmed from strong support at both central and local government levels, coupled with substantial investments of time, resources, and political will. Key initiatives included the reform of air quality regulations and a significant expansion of the air quality monitoring network, from 35 stations in 2013 to over 1,000 stations today. These efforts yielded notable results. Between 2013 and 2017, PM2.5 concentrations in Beijing decreased by 35%, while the broader Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in China experienced a 25% reduction.
The insights shared at the conference highlight the importance of sustained collaboration and political will in addressing Hanoi's air pollution challenges. The ongoing cooperative scientific project between VAST and IIASA, GAINS-VIETNAM, aims to develop the scientific infrastructure for a long-lasting science-policy interface for air quality management in Vietnam.
Media coverage:
VietNam News
Hanoi Capital Page newspaper (in Vietnamese)
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