Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Reports showed that Vietnam has more than 860 urban areas, and the urbanisationrate increased to nearly 40% in 2021.
Urban areas are an important driving force for socio-economic development,speeding up economic restructuring towards industrialisation and modernisation.
However, the rapid development of urban areas leads to overpopulation, anincrease of economic development activities, high traffic density and energyconsumption, and is consequently a huge source of greenhouse gas emissionswhich is the cause of climate change.
Cities account for two-thirds of total energy consumption and 70% of greenhousegas emissions, so they play a vital role in efforts to reduce global greenhousegas emissions and protect the environment, experts said.
Quang, deputy head of MoNRE’s Department of Climate Change, said coastal citiesare often affected by storms, high tides, extreme rain, floods and risingsea-levels.
Cities near high mountains face risks of landslides and flash floods afterheavy rains.
For urban areas combined with industrial parks and economic zones, the impactof climate change and natural disasters can disrupt the circulation of goodsand materials, affecting the overall economy.
Sharing the same view, Ngo Minh Hung and Le Thi Kim Oanh from Van LangUniversity said the strong urbanisation process in developing countries has ledto worsening environmental pollution, adding that the impact of climate changemake urban governance more difficult.
Scarcity of water supply, heat, urban flooding and wastewater-related issueshave been affecting lives and socio-economic conditions in urban areas.
The solution of a carbon-neutral urban model is a new trend to promotesustainable environmental development in the country, they said.
It is necessary to prioritise the implementation of a number of governancepolicies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in urban areas, such as promotingthe use of public transport and limiting the use of private vehicles, usingland resources economically and efficiently, developing ecological parks, andcreating more urban green spaces and landscapes.
Duong Thi Thuy Nga from the University of Science under Vietnam NationalUniversity-HCM City said tall buildings that block wind, a large population, ahigh number of vehicles and carbon emissions are also contributing to theincrease of the urban heat island effect in HCM City and other large cities in Vietnam.
They are causing heat waves with some of the highest recorded temperatures everin the country, affecting public health.
Mai Quoc Buu from Van Lang University said green projects and buildings inurban areas not only have green trees on the roof, but also use eco-friendlyconstruction materials.
“They must be designed in the direction of reducing energy and intensifying theadoption of clean and green energy,” he said.
Quang said that sectors and localities should promote the efficient use ofenergy, apply renewable energy solutions in production, traffic and urbanlighting as well as recycling waste and wastewater in line with the circularmodel, and produce energy from waste, while ensuring urban developmentassociated with environmental protection and climate change adaptation.
Upgrading traffic works in areas vulnerable to climate change, constructing buildingsand urban areas in accordance with green standards and close to nature, andapplying energy efficiency standards in buildings are also needed, he added./.
VNA
