Vietnam proposes low-emission zones to control fossil fuel vehicles

The Vietnamese government has proposed amendments to the Law on Environmental Protection to establish low-emission zones (LEZs) aimed at improving air quality and public health. During a National Assembly session on October 24, Minister of Justice Hoang Thanh Tung presented a draft law that prioritizes the control of high-emission vehicles and those using fossil fuels, such as gasoline and diesel cars.

The proposal emphasizes that the implementation of these zones must follow a suitable roadmap to ensure feasibility and transparency while minimizing negative impacts on production, business, services, and citizens' lives. The establishment of LEZs must align with urban planning, traffic organization, and the capacity of the public transportation system.

To support this transition, the government plans to issue incentive policies to encourage the development of public transport and vehicles using renewable energy, low fuel consumption, or zero-emission technologies. The draft law tasks the government with defining specific criteria for establishing these zones and managing emission measures within them.