(VOVworld) – The Ministry of Industry and Trade has launched the Earth Hour campaign 2017 themed “Light off to turn on the future”. Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and 60 other cities and provinces will turn off the light from 8.30 PM to 9.30 PM on March 25, in sync with foreign countries.

Young volunteers take part in the Earth Hour campaign launch (Photo: VOV)

This year’s campaign aims to encourage the community to use energy economically and effectively. The launch ceremony in Hanoi on Sunday was attended by thousands of students and volunteers. More than 1,000 people joined a flash mob performance. Hoang Cong Minh is a student from Hanoi Health College. He said: “This is the first time I take part in the Earth Hour campaign, which is very meaningful in energy saving and environmental protection. The campaign connects young people for achieving a common goal.”

This year marks the 9^th time Earth Hour event held in Vietnam. Last year’s campaign saved 450,000kw per hour, 3 times higher than in 2009, when Vietnam hosted the first event. Trinh Quoc Vu, head of the Department of Science, Technology, and Energy Efficiency, at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said: “The amount of electricity saved during the one hour of light off measures the society’s response to the national program on Earth Hour. We hope for more people’s response to this year’s event. This campaign should take place all year around, not just one hour of turning off light. So we hope the people and business cooperate with us in energy saving and environmental protection.”