When I first arrived in Hanoi, I could not get over the level of air pollution that people live with on a daily basis. One of my colleagues has been suffering from a terrible cough since she arrived here and after a day outside, you feel like you need to take a shower afterwards to wash the pollution off your skin.
My first instinct was to question how the local population could stand for this kind of air quality. Who is responsible for fixing this? Why is so little being done? Cars, trucks, buses and most importantly motorcycles are to blame for this air pollution. Hanoi is also experiencing massive urbanisation and by 2020 there is projected to be 1 million cars and 7 million motorcycles in the city. The reasons behind this are numerous. Firstly, the only form of public transport is busses, of which only 3% of the cities inhabitants use. Secondly, commuting by car is tedious and slow. Investment in public transport and road improvements would cost the Vietnamese government billions per year and motorcycles are ingrained into Vietnamese and SEA culture. This leaves two options – cycle in 40 degree heat or use a motorcycle. I must confess that even as an environmentalist and a qualified urban planner, I myself have invested in a motorcycle to get around the city.
What can be done to improve this? The suggestions are numerous and potentially viable but it would require a significant investment. Vietnam must firstly begin to invest heavily in renewable energy. It already gets 40% of its electricity from hydroelectric plants. Secondly, the electrification of cars and scooters must become far more common and dates should be set to phase out fossil fuel modes of transport. Electric light rail, buses, cars and bikes could clear up the air in the city and showcase just how beautiful a city it really is. Will this happen? Its up to the Government I suppose!
Anyway, it is not my job to try and solve every air quality problem that Southeast Asia suffers from. I’m just here to look into the agricultural aspect.
Take a look at the video. Its a good watch!
Tam Biet
Éanna