HCMC – HCMC wants to promote electric vehicles and develop modern public transport as key strategies to combat traffic-induced air pollution.
The HCMC People’s Council, in collaboration with the HCMC Institute for Development Studies and the University of Transport, on August 22 held a workshop titled “Policies and Solutions for Green Transportation in HCMC.” The workshop brought together experts and officials to discuss the environmental impact of urbanization, particularly the substantial emissions generated by daily traffic.
Nguyen Thi Le, chairwoman of the HCMC People’s Council, stressed the urgency of the issue. The city emits around 35 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, with 13 million tons attributed to transportation, given more than nine million vehicles on the road.
Ph.D Mai Hoai Dan from the University of Finance and Marketing said that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels in HCMC exceed World Health Organization (WHO) standards by 4.2 times, leading to nearly 1,400 air pollution-related deaths each year.
Over 50% of carbon emissions in urban areas across Vietnam are from transportation, according to Nguyen Ngoc Long, president of the HCMC University of Transport. He emphasized that reducing transportation emissions is crucial for HCMC to evolve into a green city.
The workshop also addressed the need for policies to promote green transportation. Le Trung Tinh, chairman of the HCMC Passenger Transport Association, highlighted the importance of transitioning to electric and compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles by 2025. He urged the central Government to introduce incentives for investors in electric vehicles, such as financial aid, preferential interest rates, and longer loan repayment terms.
The HCMC Department of Transport is working on plans to enhance public transport and manage private vehicle use. These include integrating the upcoming metro line with bus networks and piloting green transportation initiatives, starting with public buses.
By 2030, HCMC aims for all public transport vehicles to operate on electric power. The city is also considering policies to support the development of EV charging stations and related infrastructure.
As part of a pilot project, Can Gio District will transition from gasoline-powered motorbikes to electric ones, with a focus on low-income households and families. This initiative aims to reduce the district’s high emissions from motorbikes, according to Phan Thuy Kieu from the Institute for Development Studies.
