Viet Nam joins hands for the right to breathe clean air

Action toward green and sustainable development

On the morning of November 1, the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Hanoi City People's Committee, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and other relevant agencies and organizations, solemnly held the "Clean Air for a Blue Sky" event at Ho Guom Walking Street in Hanoi. The event aims to raise public awareness about protecting the air environment and moving toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Attending the event were Mr. Huynh Thanh Dat, Member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission; Mr. Le Cong Thanh, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment; Mr. Nguyen Manh Quyen, Member of the Standing Committee of the Hanoi City Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Hanoi City People's Committee; Ms. Ramla Khalidi, Resident Representative of UNDP in Viet Nam; Ms. Angela Pratt, Representative of WHO in Viet Nam; along with leaders of ministries and central sectors, international organizations, experts, businesses, and numerous citizens of the capital.

This practical activity aims to implement the Party and State's guidelines and policies on environmental protection and sustainable development while demonstrating Viet Nam's determination to join the international community in coping with air pollution.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission Huynh Thanh Dat emphasized, "Protecting the air environment is a long-term responsibility for public health and the nation's future. Improving air quality requires synchronous, effective implementation, along with coordination across the entire political system, between central and local levels, and  the proactive participation of both citizens and businesses."

Mr. Huynh Thanh Dat called on officials, party members, social organizations, and communities to promote pioneering and exemplary roles through concrete actions to protect the living environment and contribute to preserving a "blue sky" for future generations.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh stated that the Ministry is synchronously implementing measures to manage air quality, focusing on the two largest cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The Deputy Minister urged the whole society to act together for a blue sky, starting with small actions, such as reducing pollution at its source, promoting clean transport and energy, and spreading the message of green living and building a green, clean living environment where every tree is an air purifier and every water surface serves as the city's lung.

"The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is committed to continuing close coordination with ministries, central sectors, and localities to advise the Government on implementing synchronous and effective measures to reduce air pollution, especially in the capital city of Hanoi," Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh stressed.

Representing international organizations, Ms. Ramla Khalidi, Resident Representative of UNDP in Viet Nam, and Ms. Angela Pratt, Representative of WHO in Viet Nam, expressed their affection for Hanoi and affirmed their commitment to accompany and support Viet Nam in overcoming the air pollution challenges. They also emphasized that UNDP and WHO will continue close collaboration with Vietnamese agencies to aim for a healthy, equitable, and sustainable future for all citizens.

Hanoi pioneers in air pollution control

Air pollution remains one of the greatest challenges to public health and sustainable development. In Hanoi, emissions from transport, construction, industry, and urban living put tremendous pressure on the air environment, demanding drastic and sustainable solutions.

On behalf of the municipal government, Mr. Nguyen Manh Quyen, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi City People's Committee, affirmed that Hanoi is carrying out many synchronous solutions to control pollution, promote green transformation in transport, and spread environmentally friendly lifestyles, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050. The "Clean Air for a Blue Sky" event is not only a communication activity but also a strong call to action—"Act today for a clean sky tomorrow."

The city has identified emission control from transport sources as a key and breakthrough task. This field has also received close guidance from the Party and State leadership, particularly General Secretary To Lam.

Implementing these directives, Hanoi has issued the Air Quality Management Plan to 2030 and Plan No. 267 to implement the Prime Minister's Directive No. 20 on preventing and addressing environmental pollution. Notably, the city is deploying its green transition roadmap for public transport, with the goal that by 2030, 100% of buses will use clean energy. This concrete step demonstrates Hanoi's strong commitment to emission reduction while building a green and sustainable lifestyle for its residents.

In addition to completing policies and infrastructure, Hanoi is enhancing air quality monitoring, forecasting, and data publishing; developing an early warning network; and strengthening communication to raise community awareness. Citizens are encouraged to adopt more eco-friendly daily habits and modes of transport.

The city also welcomes and fully supports the "Clean Air Viet Nam 2025" initiative launched by UNDP and WHO, expressing its readiness to take the lead in coordination and implementation to help achieve national goals on air quality improvement, public health protection, and sustainable development.

"Every citizen and every business, through small actions such as using environmentally friendly means of transport, avoiding trash burning, or planting more trees, can contribute to making the capital's air cleaner," Mr. Quyen emphasized.

According to Vice Chairman Nguyen Manh Quyen, with direction from the Central Government, the support of international organizations, and the responsible spirit of the entire society, Hanoi is gradually realizing its aspiration for a blue sky and a livable city for today and the future. The city will continue to pioneer in air pollution management and control, resolutely pursuing its goal of building a green, clean, beautiful, and livable Hanoi, where every resident enjoys the right to breathe clean air.

Within the event's framework, delegates witnessed the data connection ceremony, linking air sensor devices to the national monitoring system. This is an important step in the application of modern technology and management, enabling citizens to monitor air quality daily.

The event also featured vibrant accompanying activities such as the joint pledge ceremony themed "For a Blue Sky of Viet Nam" and an exhibition of propaganda paintings created by Hanoi’s children under the same theme. Through their images, colors, and messages, the younger generation expressed their faith and aspirations for a green, clean, and healthy future.

Concluding the event, delegates and citizens together signed a commitment and spread the message "For Every Breath," affirming a determination to join hands for the environment, for a blue sky of Vietnam today and next generations.