Chris Infotainment

The Struggle for Clean Air in Hanoi William Gray packed up his belongings and left Hanoi, unable to endure the city's "thick exhaust fumes and burning plastic stench." After eight years living in the capital, the 38-year-old Briton made the tough decision to move his family to Hoi An at the end of 2024. His experience was not unique—many residents have faced similar challenges due to the city’s worsening air quality. The idea of leaving came after a particularly harrowing moment when he spent half an hour stuck in traffic on a bridge in Ha Dong Ward. The air was so thick with pollution that it made him gag and feel suffocated. “Life in Hanoi would be perfect if not for the pollution,” he said wistfully. Gray's daily commute involved crossing Long Bien Bridge, where the smell of burning plastic from trash near construction sites was constant. During rush hour, he was trapped in exhaust fumes that worsened his health. His wife, a Hanoi native, struggled with respirat...

Global Air Quality Crisis and the Role of Wildfires As billions of people around the world continue to breathe in polluted air, which is responsible for over 4.5 million premature deaths annually, the United Nations has drawn attention to the significant impact of microscopic smoke particles from wildfires. These particles can travel vast distances, often crossing international borders and affecting regions far from their origin. Lorenzo Labrador, a Scientific Officer at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), emphasized that "air quality respects no boundaries." He noted that the smoke from wildfires in the Iberian Peninsula during this record-breaking season has already been detected in Western Europe and could potentially spread across the entire European continent. In presenting the latest WMO Air Quality and Climate Bulletin, which analyzes data from various global sources, Mr. Labrador highlighted a concerning trend of pollution degradation worldwide. The bullet...