Da Nang is now on right track of becoming an environmentally friendly city by 2020, meeting the land, water and air quality standards throughout the city in a bid to ensure the safe and healthy living environment for both locals, and visitors from both home and abroad.

A project for building an environmentally friendly city should be deployed in a sustainable manner

Over the past decade, some fruitful results have been gained from a landmark project for building an environmentally friendly city, especially in air pollution reduction, domestic wastewater treatment, solid waste collection, and clean water supplies for local families.

A total of more than 50,930 urban trees and over 200,000m² of grass have been planted across the city.

The city authorities have appealed for more funds from local organisations and individuals to increase the number of trees in the city.

To date, the city has reached approximately 4 m² per person of green area.

Thanks to its tremendous efforts, Da Nang has received a number of international and domestic awards.

Notable amongst them are the ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable City in 2011, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Law-Carbon Emission City in 2012, one of APEC 20 Green-Clean-Beautiful Cities in 2013, and membership of the Rockefeller 100 Resilient Cities Programme in 2014.

The garden city movement is a method of urban planning in which self-contained communities are surrounded by ‘greenbelts’, containing proportionate areas of residences, industry, and agriculture. The idea was initiated in 1898 by Sir Ebenezer Howard in the UK.

Of note, this model is suitable for the city’s existing natural landscape characteristic aesthetic structure, and it is expected to help the city realise its target of becoming an environmentally friendly city.

However, the development of this idea requires even greater efforts by the city authorities and locals through the implementation of specific plans.

With regard to waste treatment, every day, between 850 and 900 tonnes of solid waste are collected from across the city, and buried at Khanh Son Waste Dump’s landfill areas in Lien Chieu District’s Hoa Khanh Nam Ward. The volume of waste collection is expected to reach 1,500 tonnes per day by 2020.

A question raised here is how to effectively apply treatment technologies, select suitable site for the construction of a solid waste treatment complex, and seek waste classification and collection solutions.

It is a good idea for the city to increase the number of trees in public areas through the opening of ‘pocket parks’, built every between 300m and 500m, on unused land areas.

‘Pocket parks’ are urban open spaces on a small-scale and provide a safe and inviting environment for surrounding community members. They also meet a variety of needs and functions, including: small event space, play areas for children and spaces for relaxing.

Successful “pocket parks” boasts 4 key qualities: accessibility; allowing people to engage in all kinds of activities; comfortable spaces and a good image; and finally, sociable places: one where people meet each other and take people to when they come to visit.

Furthermore, reservoirs should be constructed for public areas and local families as an effective measure to inundation and a good water storage measure. 

Special attention should be paid to raising public awareness of planting and taking care of trees, as well as encouraging city dwellers to monitor compliance with the regulations concerning environmental protection.

Such meaningful environmental improvement movements as the ‘Clean and Green Sunday’ and ‘Increasing Green Urban Spaces’ should be promoted further in the city in the coming time.