APEC Selects Vietnam Danang for Low-carbon Model Town Project

Vietnam’s central city of Danang has been chosen as an APEC city for a low-carbon model town project, the Vietnam News Agency said. Accordingly, assessment of carbon dioxide emissions in Ngu Hanh Son district will be carried out for a report by end-Aug on environmentally-friendly measures and costings, Igarashi Toku from Newjec said at a meeting on May 15. Renewable energy measures, including solar and wind power would be used under the project, that will be developed and expanded to other districts in the whole city and eventually worldwide, Mr. Igarashi said. The city is expected to meet the world standards of environment in different categories of air, transport, buildings, energy savings and water storage in a move to become a green city by 2025. As part of its push for a low-carbon city, Danang earlier proposed battery-powered bikes; greenhouse gas emissions reduction and renewable energy and a metro system and rapid bus transit. Danang had already cut 12,000 tons of carbon emissions through a pilot project and saved VND12 billion ($570,000) between 2008-2011. In the 2016-2020 period, Danang aims to have 100% of industrial and household wastewater treated, 70% of solid waste recycled and 25% of water reused. (vietnamplus.vn May 16, Chinhphu.vn May 15)