Hanoi (VNA) – The observation of Earth Hour aims to increase the public’𝄹s awareness on climate change and energy saving through encouraging people, businesses to switch off unnecessary electrical devices for an hour. 

A ceremony announcing activities in response to the 2023 Earth Hour campaign was held at the predestrian zone around Hoan Kiem Lake in downtown Hanoi on March 18. On the occasion, more than 1,000 professional and amateur athletes participated in a race around Hoan Kiem Lake as part of the activities Through this race, the organizing committee hoped to continue to raise people's awareness of energy conservation, environmental protection, and climate change by turning athletes into ambassadors who spread the message of "Saving Electricity - Becoming a Habit". Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade (MoIT) Dang Hoang An affirmed that responding to climate change and preventing natural disasters are among the most important issues for any country's development. The deputy minister said that the MoIT has organised Earth Hour since 2009, and after 14 years, the national event has attracted the participation of people from all walks of life. Activities supporting the Earth Hour campaign have become diverse and practical more than ever, from communication events and signing of voluntary commitments on environmental protection, energy saving, waste reduction, to installation of solar power systems, presentation of trees to the public, and organisation of training courses on safe and economical use of electricity in schools. Vietnam has issued a series of policies and laws on the economical and efficient use of energy to protect the environment, reflecting its efforts to respond to climate change for sustainable development, An added. "In 2023, with the message 'Save Electricity-Become a Habit', we want to call for all people, communities and enterprises across the country to join hands in protecting the environment, saving power and electricity towards realising the  goal of zero net emissions by 2050 as Vietnam had pledged at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference," the Deputy Minister stressed. Accordingly, to mark the global Earth Hour on March 25, people nationwide are encouraged to perform the simple but meaningful act of switching off lights and other unnecessary electric appliances for one hour from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm. For the first time, MoIT has organised an online competition to disseminate information about Earth Hour. The competition has been launched on the National Energy Efficiency Programme website tietkiemnangluong.com.vn.

This is the 14^th year that Vietnam has participated in the Earth Hour to highlight energy savings and raise publ𝓡ic awareness on environmental protection and climate change.

In 2009, the first Earth Hour campaign was organised in Vietnam, involving six provinces and cities. So far, the movement led by the MOIT has become an indispensable annual activity that has attracted the participation of many ministries, sectors, and individuals all over the country. In 2022, the country saved 309,000 kWh of electricity, equivalent to 576 million VND (over 24,000 USD) during the Earth Hour. Earth Hour is an initiative launched by the World Wide Fund for Nature  (WWF) and is the largest social event globally. It has been observed in around 7,000 cities in 187 countries and territories worldwide with billions of people joining in./.