Vietnam expands cooperation in monitoring acid deposition
Vietnam has developed a system of hydrometeorological and environmental monitoring stations across the country, including monitoring acid deposition, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh said at the 25th session of the Intergovernmental Meeting on the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) held in Hanoi on November 29.
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has developed a systemof hydrometeorological and environmental monitoring stations across thecountry, including monitoring acid deposition, Deputy Minister of NaturalResources and Environment Le Cong Thanh said at the 25th ♋session of theIntergovernmental Meeting on the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in EastAsia (EANET) held in Hanoi on November 29.
Thanh said that air pollution and acid deposition have becomeurgent issues not only in Vietnam but also in almost all countries in Asia andthe world. Air pollution and acid deposition adversely impact human life and the ecosystem. Acid depositiondegrades natural habitats, soil and water environments and ecosystems, causingsevere consequences for the agriculture, fisheries, and construction sectors. Most notably, the scourge affects human health. The control of aciddeposition is difficult, requiringinterdisciplinary research and cooperation between countries sharing a commonborder, Thanh said. Marlene Nilsson, Deputy Regional Director of the UN EnvironmentProgramme (UNEP) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, said that Vietnam isamong the first countries to join EANET. Over the last 20 years, Vietnam has built and operated ahigh-quality acid deposition monitoring network across the country. The resultsobtained from the monitoring network have contributed significantly toassessment reports on the current status and trends of acid deposition and air pollution in the East Asia region, she said. EANET was established in 2001 as an intergovernmental initiativeto create a common understanding of the state of acid deposition problems inEast Asia. It provides useful input for decision-making at various levels, andpromotes cooperation among countries. At present, 13 countries in East Asia areparticipating in EANET./.
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Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA) 
