Ha Noi establishes task force to advance low-emission zone initiative

Under Decision No. 5103/QĐ-UBND dated October 14, 2025, the Ha Noi People's Committee established the task force to advise the municipal government on implementing activities related to the development of LEZs — a key measure to improve air quality and promote sustainable urban growth.

The task force is headed by Vu Xuan Tung, Deputy Director of the Ha Noi Department of Agriculture and Environment, with Dao Viet Long, Deputy Director of the Ha Noi Department of Construction, serving as Deputy Head. It comprises 14 members representing relevant departments, agencies, and district-level People's Committees.

Its main responsibility is to provide recommendations on the organization and implementation of the city's LEZ policy and to prepare a draft resolution to replace Resolution No. 47/2024/NQ-HDND, ensuring consistency with the Capital Law.

A central focus will be the development of a pilot low-emission zone within Ring Road No. 1, one of Ha Noi's most densely populated and traffic-congested areas. The pilot is expected to serve as a model for gradual expansion to other districts in the future.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment, as the standing agency, will coordinate inputs from task force members, propose specific actions, and ensure legal compliance. The task force leader is authorized to review emerging tasks and assign responsibilities to ensure timely and effective implementation.

A supporting team of 38 members will provide administrative and technical assistance. All members will continue working in their current roles, and the task force will automatically dissolve once it completes its assigned mission.

Ha Noi's LEZ initiative forms part of the city's broader strategy to cut transport-related emissions and enhance air quality by promoting cleaner vehicles, public transport, and sustainable urban planning. The zones will preferentially permit vehicles with zero or very low emissions, use of clean/green energy, or with special authorization.

On December 12, 2024, the Ha Noi People's Council approved a resolution to establish LEZs, initially covering Hoan Kiem and Ba Đinh districts. Vehicles that fail to meet emissions standards (EURO 4 for cars, EURO 2 for motorbikes) may be restricted. The pilot phase runs from 2025 to 2030, with citywide expansion planned from 2031 onward.

The city is also advancing its green transportation agenda by encouraging residents to shift to electric or hybrid vehicles, expanding public transport, and updating standards for EV charging stations as part of land-use planning. A project has been approved to strengthen the public transport network with electric and green-energy buses. Supporting measures include incentives for switching to electric vehicles (EVs), investment in clean-transport infrastructure, and fees or charges for higher‐emission vehicles entering the zones.

In parallel, Ha Noi is implementing broader environmental measures. On May 13, 2025, the city issued Plan No. 131/KH-UBND on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions mitigation in the waste-management sector through 2030.

Transport is among the main contributors to air pollution in the capital, accounting for an estimated 50–70 percent of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions. As of April 2024, Ha Noi was home to over 8 million vehicles including 1.1. million cars and 6.9 million motobikes. Older vehicles (motorbikes over 10 years old) make up 72.58 percent of the total motorbike fleet, raising emissions concern.

The establishment of the LEZ task force is made possible by the amended Capital Law (2024), which grants Ha Noi greater authority to implement breakthrough environmental and traffic-management solutions./.