People around Vietnam will turn off their electric lights for an hour on Saturday evening to show support for a global campaign called Earth Hour, which is aimed at enhancing the need to act on climate change and power saving.

The World Wildlife Fund-sponsored event was initiated in Sydney, Australia in 2007, while Vietnam first took part in the environmental campaign in 2009.

The Landmark 81 building in Ho Chi Minh City gradually loses its glow during the 2020 Earth Hour. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

To respond to this year’s Earth Hour campaign, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has called for action to save the planet by turning off lights for one hour from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm on Saturday, March 25. 

The ministry teamed up with the Hoa Binh People’s Committee to organize a ceremony to launch the 2023 Earth Hour campaign nationwide in the northern province on Thursday.

Many buildings on the Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street in downtown Ho Chi Minh turn off lights during the 2020 Earth Hour. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan said that climate change has led to severe weather conditions, including lengthy heat waves, high rainfalls and intense droughts.

Vietnam is listed among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, according to a report titled “2022 climate change - impact, adaptation and vulnerability,” conducted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 

Young people in Hanoi City show support for the 2019 Earth Hour campaign. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

To prevent climate change from delivering serious blows to agriculture, food security, natural ecosystem, water resources and people’s health, and encourage participation in the blackout, the ministry told all ministries, departments, agencies and localities to switch off lights and non-essential electric devices for a full hour on Saturday night.

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