Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, has a transport master plan that provides alternative scenarios for the City’s transport system. EMBARQ/WRI and local partners studied how these scenarios would impact on air pollutant and CO2 emissions. The results of the analysis show that if government officials decide to further promote public transportation and to mandate stricter fuel quality and vehicle emission standards, it will be possible to stabilize emissions in 2020 at 2005 levels, while still ensuring the same level of mobility to Hanoi residents.
Nevertheless, without measures to restrain the growth in overall vehicle traffic – particularly that of private cars – fuel use and transport emissions will grow significantly. A continued shift from two-wheelers to cars will mean an enormous increase in fuel use, even if the cars are very efficient. Such a shift is expected to cause enormous congestion problems because of the lack of space in Hanoi.