According to a spokesperson for the Da Nang Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, after more than 10 years of implementing the ‘Building Da Nang into an environmentally-friendly City’ project, the city has created positive changes in the environment.

Over the past decade, the city has scored 7 out of the 10 indicators set by the landmark project.

In detail, the city has seen the air pollution index (API) of less than 100, with the index of only 58 last year.

The noise index has been less than 60dB (A) in high-density residential areas, and less than 75dB (A) on streets.

The index of the per capita green space was only 2m² in 2005, but it increased to 7.46 m² and 7.51 m² in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

Meanwhile, the city’s forest coverage reached 46.66% last year, representing a rise of 8.1% against 2008 and an increase of 5.21% compared with the national average, and exceeding the target set for 2020 by 2.66%.

As for water quality criterion, 97.83% of the total families in urban areas has accessed clean water, exceeding the target set for 2020 by 2.83%.

Meanwhile, 76,81% of the families in rural areas has accessed clean water, exceeding the target set for 2020 by 6.81%. Notably, 100% of families in Hoa Vang Rural District have used clean water.

Only between 42% and 45% of the total amount of domestic wastewater have been treated. The main reason is thought to be that some newly-invested wastewater treatment plants have yet to be put into operation, whilst the operation of the Ngu Hanh Son and Hoa Cuong wastewater treatment plants has yet to meet expectations.

100% of the city’s industrial parks and high-tech park have had their own dedicated wastewater treatment systems, and their discharged wastewater has met the national standards.

The solid waste collection rates in urban and rural areas have reached 95% and 65% respectively.

The 3 indexes have not yet reached their targets set by 2020 are the rates of air pollution control plants, the water quality meeting the national standards for rivers, coastal areas, lakes and underground water, and the recycling of industrial solid waste.

In the coming time, the Department will join forces with relevant local agencies to implement the 'Building Da Nang into an environmentally-friendly City’ project during the 2020-2030 period, with a vision towards 2045.

The focus will be on controlling the environmental polution by 2025, setting up the city's environmental management systems, and striving to meet the criteria for ecological cities by 2030, as well as developing Da Nang into an ecological city meeting the regional and international criteria for ecological city by 2045.