The government of Vietnam has stated that it will encourage more electric cars (EVs) to help reduce the heavy smog that has enveloped the country’s capital, Hanoi in recent weeks placing it at the top of a list of the most polluted cities in the world.
According to AirVisual which offers impartial worldwide air pollution statistics via a mobile app, Hanoi had the highest reading of any city on a list of the most polluted with levels of dangerous PM2.5 or particulate matter measuring 266 micrograms per cubic meter early Friday. The main causes of the dense pollution are industrial operations, rubbish burning, and excessive traffic.
“We the elderly can feel it very clearly when we suffer from respiratory problems that lead to breathing difficulties,” Luu Minh Duc, a 64-year-old resident of the city, said. “The situation seems to get worse recently.”
Young people are also complaining. Nguyen Ninh Huong, a student, age 21 remarked, “At first I thought it was foggy … but later I found out that it is actually fine dusts that reduce my vision and make me feel like it is not healthy to breathe.”
As part of measures to cut pollution, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha advocated for a quicker switch to electric cars (EVs) during a meeting with the transport ministry on Thursday, according to official media. As of right now, Hanoi wants all taxis and at least 50% of buses to be electric vehicles by 2030.
