Several German specialists and government officials gathered in Hanoion June 24-26 for a workshop on improving public awareness ofenvironmental protection.

The workshop called “Environment andthe Hanoians” was jointly organised by the Ministry of Natural Resourcesand Environment (MoNRE), the Centre for Environmental Education andCommunications and Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung (RLS), a Germannon-governmental organisation.
The participants at theworkshop agreed that the whole political system and social organisationsneed to get involved in promoting awareness amongst the people as it isessential for addressing Hanoi ’s environmental issues.

PhamVan Khanh, Deputy Head of Hanoi ’s Department of Natural Resourcesand Environment, said that the city’s authorities will increaseinspections to unearth violations and tighten sanctions against theperpetrators. They will also provide financial support or subsidies forthe collection, transportation and treatment of solid waste and sewageas well as planting trees.

Khanh said that environmentalpollution in Hanoi is rising and the amount of breaches of the lawhas become much more serious.

MoNRE’s report shows that around5,000 tonnes of solid waste and more than 120,000 m3 of industrial wastewater are discharged everyday in Hanoi . The city’s surface andunderground water networks have also become seriously polluted and citydwellers also suffer from noise pollution, dust and exhaust fumes.

DoritLehrak, RLS’s Director in Vietnam , said that local environmentalissues are also a challenge to almost every other developing country inAsia .

She said it took Germany almost 30 years tore-establish a balance between economic development and environmentalprotection, and the key answer to the success is a coordinated effort bystate agencies and the public./.