The National Assembly yesterday discussed a report from the thematic supervision team on the implementation of policies and laws on environmental protection since the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection took effect.
Presenting the report, NA Secretary General Le Quang Manh noted many positive and important results, with environmental protection work meeting or exceeding several targets.
Three out of five indicators have surpassed the 2025 plan, including: the rate of collection and treatment of urban solid waste meeting standards and regulations; the rate of industrial parks and export processing zones with centralized wastewater treatment systems meeting environmental standards; and the forest coverage rate.
The state budget for environmental activities has been guaranteed to be no less than 1 percent of total budget expenditure and has increased annually (1.12 percent in 2024). Socialized resources and corporate investment in environmental protection have also shown positive changes.
Major pollution sources have been strictly controlled, preventing large-scale environmental incidents; and many models of urban, rural, industrial park, industrial cluster, craft village, eco-friendly production facilities have emerged..
Investment in installing automatic wastewater monitoring equipment transmitting data directly to state management agencies has been strengthened. And the proportion of industrial parks with centralized wastewater treatment systems has increased compared to the previous period.
In 2022-2024, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (former) inspected 812 facilities, and fined 348 facilities totaling VND96.7 billion. Localities fined 14,863 cases totaling VND643 billion. State audit conducted 12 audits, pointing out many limitations and inadequacies in environmental management.
Environmental police force actively investigated, detected and prosecuted 2,336 cases/2,935 defendants.
The increase in pollution and environmental degradation has been prevented, with environmental quality gradually improved, especially soil quality, surface water in some major river basins, coastal seawater, and groundwater.
Hanoi, HCMC among most polluted cities
However, Manh noted that pollution remains a problem, with complex and sometimes severe developments, particularly air pollution (caused by fine dust) in major cities.
At times, the air quality index exceeded safe thresholds, negatively affecting public health. Hanoi and HCMC have occasionally ranked among the most polluted cities in the world.
Water quality in certain river sections near densely populated areas, manufacturing, business, and craft villages, such as the Cau River, Nhue-Day River, and Bac Hung Hai irrigation system, has been slow to improve.
Nationwide, only 31.5 percent of industrial clusters and 16.6 percent of craft villages have built centralized wastewater treatment systems meeting EP standards.
Water reuse, industrial solid waste recycling, and hazardous waste management remain limited. Some types of hazardous waste, like pesticide packaging from households, are not collected separately but mixed with household waste.
Certain localities and healthcare facilities still struggle to collect, transport, and treat hazardous medical waste.
The supervision team has reported ongoing complaints, denunciations, and environmental crimes in some areas, with some cases causing social disorder.
According to the National Assembly's Committee on People's Petitions and Supervision, many complaints and petitions are related to centralized livestock farms discharging waste into the environment, waste treatment operations in localities, and emissions from certain manufacturing facilities.
The supervision team identified causes and proposed breakthrough solutions.
It emphasized the need to promote a circular economy and green transition through policies encouraging research and development of eco-friendly technologies, environmental industries and services, green procurement, and renewable energy; and building institutions to foster green and circular economic growth.
The supervision team proposed urgent and breakthrough measures. Alongside amending the EP Law, from now until the end of 2026, immediate actions must be taken to control, prevent, and remedy air pollution in Hanoi and HCMC.
It also recommended that by the end of 2026, the assessment of environmental carrying capacity and the publication of water quality management plans for certain interprovincial river basins be completed; and that pollution in severely affected rivers, including Ngu Huyen Khe, To Lich, and the Bac Hung Hai irrigation system, be improved.
At the 49th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee held at the end of September, Chair of the Committee for Culture and Society Nguyen Dac Vinh said large waste treatment plants such as Nam Son (Hanoi) and Da Phuoc (HCMC) still face difficulties in handling solid waste.
Meanwhile, National Assembly Vice Chair Nguyen Thi Thanh noted that only 18 percent of urban wastewater is currently treated, meaning more than 80 percent is discharged directly into the environment, causing pollution. She emphasized that urban wastewater treatment is a major issue requiring substantial and well-designed projects to improve environmental conditions in cities.