Environment

Hanoi used to be surrounded by attractive rivers, but now heavy pollution has seriously threatened river life.

China's northern Hebei province has issued its first "red alert" of the year for severe pollution, the official Xinhua news agency said on Thursday, the highest level alert for smog which will see factories suspended and cars pulled off

Three containers holding illegally trafficked elephant tusks hidden inside timber logs weighing a total of one tonne were discovered on Tuesday at Cát Lái Port.

Red tide has been blamed for the death of over 10 tonnes of fish in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa according to a report by local authorities released Tuesday.

The highest administrative fine for individuals caught violating regulations related to environmental protection is VNĐ1 billion (US$44,400), and the highest fine for an organisation is VNĐ2 billion ($88,800).

Freakishly high temperatures in the Arctic driven by heat-packed oceans and northward winds have been reinforced by a "vicious circle" of climate change, scientists said Thursday.

Some 300 urban areas will be badly affected in future as Vietnam is in the top five most vulnerable countries to climate change according to a conference held in Hanoi.

GIZ and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on November 23 hold a workshop on the outcome of COP 22 and the plan for the implementation of the Paris Agreement in Hanoi.

The HCM City People’s Committee has approved a plan to spend up to VND64.2 trillion (USD2.9 billion) to carry out 54 environmental projects by 2020.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has requested the USD1.2-billion Lee & Man Paper Plant in Hau Giang Province to halt operations due to public concerns over its environmental impact.

The illegal market for bears and bear parts is still strong in Vietnam despite the introduction of legislation to ban their sale in 2006.

The US Agency for International Development will fund a US$10 million project on preserving rare species through reducing demand for illegal wildlife products.

Authorities in Hanoi have ordered an investigation into allegations of illegal waste dumping in the Red River, reported by Giao thông vận tải Magazine (Transportation Magazine).

The third International Wildlife Trade Conference opened in Hanoi on November 17 with the participation of 47 countries, the European Union, 7 international organisations and over 40 inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha confirmed on November 16 that water in certain central provinces is “safe for tourism, sports and fishing.”

Britain's Prince William has arrived on his first visit to Vietnam where he will take part in an international conference on illegal wildlife trade in the fight to protect elephants, rhinos and other endangered species from extinction.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon voiced hope Tuesday that Donald Trump will "vary" his stance denying climate change as world leaders gathered in Morocco to keep a planetary rescue plan on track.

The year 2016 will "very likely" be the hottest on record, the UN said, warning of calamitous consequences if the march of global warming cannot be halted.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has said it will remove 471 small and cascade hydropower plants from its master plan and reject another 213 potential projects over environmental and efficiency concerns.