This year's Earth Hour campaign was officially approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade launched on March 25 with a series of communication activities including as short film contest, collecting fingerprints as a commitment to saving energy and mitigating against climate change, organizing a Green Movement, and encouraging cycling to respond to Earth Hour.
Earth Hour was first held in 2007 and this year's event is a continuation of the endless journey to its target for energy efficiency by all classes of people. Vietnam Economic News' Bao Ngoc recorded the opinions of several leaders and ambassadors who participated in the program.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Le Duong Quang: "It's time to turn awareness into action."
Officially launched in 2007 in the Australian city of Sydney, the annual Earth Hour Campaign has become a large-scale global environmental call to action, attracting participants from many countries and territories worldwide. In recent years, the campaign has raised Vietnamese people's awareness about the causes and consequences of climate change and energy waste. Now is the time for us to turn that awareness among the State, businesses and people into practical action for energy efficiency, environmental protection and build a green and sustainable economy.
This year is the second year the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) officially has taken charges of the event and has issued documents to direct departments of industry and trade in provinces and cities across the country, economic groups, corporations, State agencies and units to respond to the campaign.
The Danish Ambassador to Vietnam John Neilsen: "Small action for big change."
This global event is launched as a mutual action to broadcast a message that the Vietnamese Government and people are willing to work together to find solutions to deal with the negative impacts of climate change, contributing considerably to the increased energy efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions.
Denmark has always prioritzed and supported activities dealing with climate change. In recent years, the Danish Embassy in Vietnam has participated in many activities in response to the Earth Hour Campaign organized by the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, which must include annual reduced uses of fuels, electricity and water. As the ambassador of the Earth Hour 2013 Campaign, I myself will cycle and encourage others to do the same. We also aim to further reduce power consumption by about 5 percent this year and I believe that these small actions will partly contribute to energy efficiency and combating climate change.
Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) Nguyen Tan Loc: "We always combine business development with the protection of the environment and national resources, and also energy saving and efficiency."
As a primary sponsor for the Earth Hour 2013 Campaign, EVN will positively participate in the activities to disseminate the energy saving and efficiency. This year, EVN will strive to save about 1.5 percent of electricity usage in terms of the northern and central provinces and about 2 percent regarding southern provinces.
Also this year, EVN will direct its power companies to promote and support energy saving programs in accordance with the event. EVN is committed to combining business development with environmental protection and protection of natural resources, contributing to the national energy policy and efficiency savings.
Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade Pham Duc Tien: "The Earth Hour Campaign helps raise people's awareness about energy savings and anti-climate change."
During the three-year period from 2009 to 2011, Hanoi saved 293,326 kWh in hours in response to the Earth Hour Campaign. Last year, the Hanoi People's Committee held the main event at night, with many exciting activities such as hanging 6,000 banners and posters in response to the event, bike parades to energy saving, and practicing the "one hour off the lights" program. The Earth Hour Campaign has raised the city people's awareness about dealing with climate changes and energy saving.
The Earth Hour 2013 event conveys the message "You and I take the same action" will attract a large number of people, students, business people into taking practical actions aimed at energy efficiency and environmental protection.
Electrolux Vietnam Company's Director of Brand and Customer Relations Elizabeth Png: "It is important to prolong the effect behind the Earth Hour Campaign."
Earth Hour 2013 will be held across the world on March 23 between 8.30-9.30pm. This annual great lights-out event often attracts millions of supporters who are willing to preserve and protect our beautiful planet. However, the most important thing is what we should do after the lights-out hour and how we should prolong the after-event effects. We believe that the green-life movement will surely be realized with the help of environmentally friendly technologies. So it's time we need to review the use of electronics devices, select the devices that are environmentally friendly and meet fuel saving requirements. As a major sponsor for the Earth Hour 2013, we urge your support to make this event a more and more important one and not only be confined within the limits of an hour.
By Le My
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