Viet Nam targets developing an environmentally friendly transport system by 2030 and controlling pollution caused by road, railway, inland waterway, maritime and airline transport.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung approved a five-year plan on controlling pollution caused by transport activities earlier this week.
Ngo Kim Dinh, deputy director of the Environment Department, run by the Ministry of Transport, commented that the new plan outlined necessary actions for dealing with environmental problems within the transport sector. The main objects set in this plan are controlling and preventing pollution, as well as building up a sustainable green transport sector.
Accordingly, 18 projects costing about VND700 billion (US$34 million) will be carried out from now to 2015.
The funding was mostly from the State budget, but the country will also offer incentives to encourage individuals, organisations and the private sector to support the plan and invest in green technology in transport activities, he said.
Projects will include a legal framework and policies on environmental management, boosting Viet Nam’s participation in international law enforcement; managing waste generated by transport activities; raising public awareness; and applying scientific and technological advances.
Dinh said that a shortage of staff, equipment and awareness were just some of the challenges facing the implementation of the plan.
It was critical to raise public awareness and call on transport enterprises to run their businesses with an eye on environmental protection, he said adding that enterprises would have to upgrade their facilities and apply green technology, not only to improve their efficiency, but to also benefit their communities.
The plan will point out main targets to 2015, including to have all transport enterprises to introduce environmental and waste management systems.
By 2015, the country will replace at least 25 per cent of its train carriages and install equipment to collect and treat waste in at least 80 per cent of its coach stations.
It will also map out the effects of sound in 50 per cent of the nation’s airports and recommend measures to deal with it.
Dinh noted that in urban areas, including Ha Noi and HCM City, transport activities contributed up to 70 per cent of total air pollution. On busy roads, including National Highways 1 and 51, high traffic density resulted in vibration, dirt, gases and noise that affect the lives and health of local residents. The plan presents measures to mitigate the impact of ports, ferries and tour boats on the environment.
The master plan would pave the way for the implementation of detailed plans for different sectors to better control pollution generated by transport activities.
