In the evening of March 28, together with nearly 200 countries and territories comprising approximately 7,000 cities worldwide, Vietnam responded to Earth Hour Campaign simultaneously in 63 provinces, cities by exemplary action of switching off lights for 1 hour from 20h30 to 21h30.
Mr. Nguyễn Ngọc Tuấn, Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee at the event After the vanguard event "Hanoi starts up the switching off lights in response to the Earth Hour Campaign" on March 22, the campaign has quickly spread out to so many places in the country. It was in Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh that there were series of ardent and lively activities. The message "Saving energy, in response to climate change" has been communicated and transmitted to the young community in various forms, such as cycling fans, parades, handouts of flyers, posters and advocating for commitment.
According to statistics from the Control Center of the National Grid System, the total electrical power saving from light-off ceremony in Hanoi on March 22, and in other provinces on March 28 is 520,000 kWh equivalent to roughly VND850 million.
Mr. Vũ Huy Hoàng, Minister of Industry and Trade in his speech calling for responding to Earth Hour 2015 Campaign Earth Hour is the annual event presided over by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in coordination with the Danish Embassy in Vietnam; World Wide Fund For Nature, Provincial People's Committees of cities and provinces. The Vietnam Electricity has been consecutively the companion with of the Campaign for the last 7 years. In 2015, Daikin Vietnam participated in the Campaign as a donor.
Speaking at the Campaign opening ceremony, Mr. Vu Huy Hoang, Minister of Industry and Trade emphasized: "
with the role and its responsibilities, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has been exerting its efforts and it will continue to participate actively in the Earth Hour campaign, and it will work in coordination with relevant units in response to this campaign. Ministry of Industry and Trade appeals to every organization, individual, family, and business for joint efforts in response to climate change. Let's demonstrate our commitment by means of a simple action; turn off the lights and electrical appliances when these are not in use during the 365 days of the year." Representatives of MOIT and other ministries and sectors at the event in Hanoi to start up the CampaignEarth Hour 2015 campaign officially spreads from the Kick Off event at Thong Nhat Park in Hanoi (on February 7, 2015). The event attracted about 3,000 students and volunteers to participate. Then, a series of activities took place during March in every province and city in the country, especially in Hanoi, Da Nang, Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh City.
Goodwill ambassadors of the communication campaignThe goodwill ambassadors of the campaign include: His Excellency John Nielsen - Danish Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark in Vietnam, Miss Thuy Van the runner-up, those singers: Miss Van Mai Huong, Dinh Manh Thang, and Ta Quang Ninh have been in communication with thousands of young people, to share the meanings of the actions for environmental protection, energy saving, climate change adaptation.
Message of Earth Hour 2015 Campaign "Saving energy, Respond to climate change"After almost one month's time, the Design Contest for communication poster in response to Earth Hour 2015 campaign has obtained 511 entries. The Organizing Board selected eight master pieces awards including 1 First prize (VND10 million), 2 creative solutions prizes (VND5 million / solution) and 5 consolation prizes (VND1 million / design).
In Hanoi, the Earth Hour campaign attracted over 10,000 volunteers to participate in it. Of these 3,000 volunteers participated in activities including cycling fans, 60+ mass game, communication posters, leaflets and community mobilization with commitments to respond to the campaign. 5000 signatures of restaurant owners, businesses, small business were obtained for commitment of turning lights off in response to the campaign.
In response to the campaign, 05 hectares of Pinus massoniana pine tree and acacia tree (equivalent to 12,500 trees) shall be planted anew in Lai Chau province.It is not only a contribution to saving part of electricity consumption, Earth Hour 2015 campaign also raises the public awareness of economical and efficient use of energy, targeting at the socio-economic development with sustainability, environmental protection and actively responding to the global climate change.
Table: Results from power saving in Vietnam in response to the Earth Hour campaign: Date | Saved capacity (MW) | Saved output (kWh) | Saved money (million VND) |
28/3/2009 | 140 | 140.000 | 126 |
27/3/2010 | 500 | 500.000 | 450 |
26/3/2011 | 400 | 400.000 | 500 |
31/3/2012 | 546 | 546.000 | 712 |
23/3/2013 | 401 | 401.000 | 576 |
29/3/2014 | 431 | 431.000 | 650 |
22/3/2015 | 241 | 241.000 | 400 |
28/3/2015 | 279 | 279.000 | 452.5 |