This year, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), in collaboration with the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, called for participation under the theme of 'Reducing carbon footprint, towards Net Zero'.

Earth Hour 2024 campaign celebration event.

In Hanoi, the Earth Hour 2024 event unfolded from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm on March 23 at the bustling Hoan Kiem pedestrian street, just outside the headquarters of the Hanoi Power Corporation. Across the city, a myriad of renowned sites and public spaces embraced the initiative, synchronously dimming lights, embellishing surroundings, and dimming advertising displays for a dedicated hour. Among the highlights were the enchanting Ngoc Son Temple, the iconic Turtle Tower, and the historic The Huc Bridge. Additionally, Ly Thai To flower garden and the vibrant perimeters of Hoan Kiem Lake and Truc Bach Lake were immersed in the spirit of conservation. The participation extended to the administrative heart of the city, including the headquarters of the Municipal Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee, as well as various municipal departments and agencies. Beyond the city center, each district, commune, and township designated public spots to join the collective effort in dimming the city's lights.
In Ho Chi Minh City, the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union and the Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation also collaborated to organize an evening event to switch off lights in response to the Earth Hour 2024 campaign at the Youth Cultural House of the City. The event conveyed the message "Saving Electricity - Forming Habits". Through this, the call to action emphasized not only saving electricity and energy but also protecting the environment. It extended beyond just one hour and urged all organizations and individuals to remember and implement energy-saving practices consistently throughout the entire year, making saving electricity and energy a genuine habit.

Hanoi's Noi Bai airport switched off electrical appliances in support of Earth Hour 2024.

Beforehand, directives were issued by the Vietnam Electricity (EVN) to its Electricity Corporations and Power Companies across provinces and cities, instructing them to disseminate messages regarding electricity conservation and environmental protection at customer service locations and organizational headquarters. Concurrently, efforts were made to mobilize organizations, agencies, and customers to participate in switching off lights and unnecessary electrical appliances during Earth Hour.
According to data monitored by the National Load Dispatch Center, following the one-hour lights-off initiative in response to Earth Hour 2024 (from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm on March 23, 2024), the nation saved a total of 428,000 kWh of electricity (equivalent to nearly 859 million VND).

Buildings and shopping centers on Tran Duy Hung street dimmed lights in response to Earth Hour 2024. (Source: VNA)

After 16 years of active participation and engagement, Earth Hour campaign in Vietnam has increasingly spread nationwide, becoming a significant annual event every March. From its initial stages of advocacy and awareness-raising, the Earth Hour campaign has now played a vital role in transforming individual awareness into concrete actions regarding electricity conservation, energy efficiency, and environmental protection.
Earth Hour is one of the global annual events dedicated to environmental protection, with participation from numerous countries and territories. The Earth Hour campaign has brought about significant shifts in awareness and actions of people worldwide towards energy conservation and environmental protection. Beginning in Sydney, Australia in 2007 with over 2 million participants, to date, nearly 200 countries/territories with billions of people worldwide have joined the movement. In 2024, Vietnam marks its 16th year actively participating in the program.
The theme "Reducing Carbon Footprint - Towards Net Zero" underscores the journey towards achieving the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions, while also calling on nations to move towards a green economy, circular economy, and sustainable development. This involves implementing nature-based solutions, expanding biodiversity corridors and conservation areas, reducing emissions, transitioning to renewable energy in various sectors, and fostering scientific and technological innovation to alleviate pressure on the natural environment.