Hanoi (VNA) – Switching off lights for 60 minutes during Earth Hour is a pragmatic action to save 𓆉the environment and shape a green future for a sustainable Vietnam, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE).

Individuals and organisations will simultaneously turn off lights for one hour, starting at 8:30pm on March 26, in response to Earth Hour 2022. The campaign is intended to draw public attention to the environmental crisis, thus seeking solutions to protect the planet and the earth.

Switching off the lights to “shape” the future

A representative from the MONRE told VietnamPlus that Earth Hour is an annual international event initiated by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) in 2007. Earth Hour brings attention to the effects of climate change by asking people to switch off lights at homes and businesses for an hour at 8.30 pm (20:30), local time, usually on the last Saturday of March. However, the “Plus” sign on the Earth Hour logo symbolises that the campaign is beyond just 60 minutes. Themed 'Shape Our Future – It's now or never', Earth Hour 2022 is set to be launched by WWF at 8:30 pm on March 26, aiming to raise public awareness of adapting to climate change and preventing and reversing global biodiversity loss. In Vietnam, one of the countries hardest hit by climate change, Earth Hour has been observed by 63 cities and provinces over the past 13 years, with the participation of millions of people. Speaking at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) last year, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, cutting methane emissions by 2030, strengthening climate change adaptation and engaging in many other initiatives. Such commitments have demonstrated Vietnam’s strong resolve in climate change adaptation, low-emission development, the promotion of circular economy and sustainable development.

Towards green, low-emission development

In response to Earth Hour 2022, the MONRE has called on individuals, businesses and the entire society to join hands to ease environmental burden and raise public awareness of energy saving and climate change response through simple actions. It will utilise information-technology to attract public attention, change their habits and improve their awareness, towards a sustainable future. In his pre-recorded speech sent to a national meeting in response to World Water Day, World Meteorological Day, and Earth Hour Campaign 2022 held virtually by the ministry on March 23, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc also said that climate change, extreme natural disasters and scarcity of water resources have been occurring in all countries and regions worldwide, becoming a serious challenge to humankind. Global climate change has entered a new phase with increasingly severe impacts, he said, noting that Vietnam is one of the five countries most affected by climate change and sea level rise. He affirmed that the Party and State have paid special attention to hydrometeorological forecasting, water resource management, and climate change adaptation in recent years. This helps to improve the quality of hydro-meteorological forecasts and warnings, protect people's lives and assets, and minimise damage caused by natural disasters. He underlined the need to not only change public awareness and thinking, but also promptly transform those into actions to join hands to protect the environment, realise SDGs set in the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development by 2030, and the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The President called on the entire political system to participate in the implementation of the Party's resolutions on transforming the current fossil fuel-based economy to a digital economy with high resistance and low emissions, which focuses on green development. Each citizen should act more responsibly in using water resources in a smart and economical way, ensuring water security and water-based livelihoods, and protecting the environment, he said. It is time to take action to build a green Vietnam, the President stressed, calling for greater efforts of the community in this regard./.