Le Hoai Nam, deputy director of the Environmental Department, said traffic accounted for 23 per cent of PM2.5 emissions in Hanoi, followed by secondary particulate matter (27 per cent), construction and road dust (20 per cent), open burning (12 per cent) and industry (10 per cent).
The ministry said several rivers flowing through Hanoi, including the Nhue, Day, Cau, Ca Lo, Ngu Huyen Khe and Bac Hung Hai rivers, continue to face pollution challenges.
Hanoi currently has more than 8 million private vehicles, including 1.1 million cars and 6.9 million motorcycles, according to the city's Department of Construction.
The city could draw on a network of 186 vehicle inspection centres as well as authorised motorcycle maintenance and repair facilities to provide emissions testing services, the department said.
The ministry also proposed financial support for residents undergoing initial emissions inspections and incentives to encourage a shift from petrol-powered motorcycles to electric vehicles.
It urged Hanoi to accelerate efforts to restore the water quality of the Kim Nguu, Lu and Set rivers and ensure all domestic wastewater is treated before being discharged into the environment.
At the conference, the ministry, Hanoi and five neighbouring provinces signed an environmental cooperation agreement to address air pollution, water quality and other regional challenges.
