The Earth Hour campaign 2018 will start at 8pm in Hanoi on March 3 with the slogan “Go more green”, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. 

The “Lights off” ceremony will take place at August Revolution Square in Hanoi from 20:30 – 21:30pm on March 24 and be televised on VTV1 channel. 

A number of awareness activities will be held in Hanoi University of Science and Technology on March 5 and Chu Van An high school on March 3, including an exchange with the campaign’s ambassadors and education on efficient energy saving. 

A series of Greener Garden activities in Hanoi’s households aim to reduce the use of nylon bags. Others include walking around pedestrian streets or in the Old Quarter with the participation of the campaign’s ambassadors and a green creativity contest scheduled for March 18, during which university and college students will produce videos and short clips on the environment. 

Vietnam first joined the Earth Hour campaign in 2009 as part of efforts to deliver on its commitments to reducing 8 percent of greenhouse emission by 2030 in response to climate change. 

In 2017, up to 471,000 kWh of electricity was saved during one-hour light off. Many businesses and organisations across the country have joined the effort.

The annual event will be organised by the Department of Energy Saving and Sustainable Development under the auspices of the Electricity of Vietnam, the Hanoi Beer Alcohol and Beverage Joint Stock Corporation and the Daikin Air Conditioning Jsc company.-VNA