More than 1,000 professional and amateur athletes participated in a race around Hoan Kiem Lake in downtown Hanoi on March 18 in response to the Earth Hour 2023 campaign.

Organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), the race was one of the activities held in Vietnam in response to this year's Earth Hour.

Through this race, the organizing committee hopes 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".

In particular, the communities are called upon to save electricity, save energy and protect the environment not only in one hour but on a regular basis during the 365 days of the year.

Delegates activate the activities in response to the Earth Hour Campaign. Photo: Nguyen Van

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Dang Hoang An affirmed that responding to climate change and preventing natural disasters is one of the most important issues for any country's development.

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 ask the local people to continue to join efforts to protect the environment. As Vietnam pledged at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26), saving electricity must become a habit for a green future and the goal of zero net emissions by 2050," the Deputy Minister stressed.

Accordingly, to mark the global Earth Hour on March 25, citizens nationwide are encouraged to perform the simple but meaningful act of switching off lights and other unnecessary appliances from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

For the first time, MoIT has organized an online competition to disseminate about Earth Hour. The competition has been launched on the National Energy Efficiency Program website tietkiemnangluong.com.vn.

The Earth Hour Campaign 2023 attracts the participation of a large number of people. Photo: Nguyen Van

This is Vietnam's 14th year participating in Earth Hour to highlight energy savings and raise public awareness on environmental protection and climate change.

In 2022, the country saved 309,000 kWh of electricity, equivalent to VND576 million (over $24,000) during the activity.

In 2009, the first Earth Hour campaign was organized 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.

Earth Hour is an initiative launched by the World Wildlife Fund (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.