Earth Hour 2020 to raise public awareness of plastic waste
The Earth Hour 2020 will call for not only the efficient use of energy but also reduction of plastic use, according to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.
Young people take part in the Earth Hour event in Hanoi on March 30, 2019. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – TheEarth Hour 2020 will call for not only the efficient use ofenergy but also reduction of plastic use, according to theMinistry of Environment and Natural Resources.
This year’s messages shouldraise public awareness of the efficient use of all energy resources and the needto increase use of renewables, to reduce, reuse and recycle plastic wastes andto protect wildlife animals, the ministry said in an official dispatch sent to ministries, central agencies, sectors as well as cities and provinces across the country.
The ministry also urged thesegovernmental bodies to conduct research, build and implement more policies and projects to mitigate impacts of climatechange and protect the environment.
People and organisations areencouraged to join the nationwide light off event from 20:30 – 21:30 on March28.
Earth Hour is a worldwide movement initiated by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It is described as the world’s largest social event for the environment, which has been observed by around 7,000 cities in 172 countries andterritories so far.
Vietnam first joined theEarth Hour campaign in 2009 to cut greenhouse emissions by 8 percent.
The Earth Hour event last year helped save492,000kWh of electricity, equivalent to 917 million VND (39,700 USD)./.
A series of localities nationwide on March 30 responded to the 2019 Earth Hour with a range of practical activities, aiming to call for joint efforts in saving electricity and protecting the earth.
About 492,000kWh of electricity, equivalent to 917 million VND (over 39,500 USD), was saved in Vietnam during the Earth Hour, when lights were turned off for one hour from 8:30pm on March 30.
Floodwater levels in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta are high and will continue to rise this month, especially in upstream areas, according to the hydraulic works management and construction department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
Conservation efforts to restore habitat and boost the population of red-crowned cranes in Tram Chim National Park are finally showing progress, with the cranes and many other rare wild birds coming back to the park.
Torrential rains from the night of July 31 to early August 1 triggered flash floods and landslides across several communes in Dien Bien province, leaving at least two people dead and eight others missing.
Transitioning to a circular economy not only offers a sustainable development path for Ho Chi Minh City but also serves as a pivotal step toward establishing a fully green economy.
An exhibition featuring 100 green, recycled, and circular economy models and products from 50 businesses and educational establishments took place in Ho Chi Minh City on July 31, as part of the local green transition forum and recycle day 2025.
Regional solidarity and cooperation are the key factor for the effective implementation of wildlife protection regulations. Only through sustainable cooperation, innovative approaches, and collective action can biodiversity be safeguarded for the present and future generations, an Vietnamese official has said.
Hanoi has approved a comprehensive plan to restore the environmental quality and develop four major urban rivers – the To Lich, Kim Nguu, Lu, and Set reverine environments.
The Javan pangolin is listed in Vietnam’s Red Book as critically endangered and is protected under Group IB – a category reserved for forest species facing an extremely high risk of extinction and requiring strict conservation measures.
As a key member of the core group of 18 countries, initiated by Vanuatu, Vietnam engaged in advocating for the UN General Assembly’s Resolution N.77/276, requesting for the ICJ’s advisory opinion. Following the resolution's adoption, Vietnam fully participated in all procedural steps for the first time, from submitting written proposals to presenting directly at the court’s hearings.
The wild elephant population in Da Nang includes a full developed herb of mature males, females, and calves. To date, the herd has grown to nine individuals.
Conservation efforts here have become a model, helping to save millions of turtle hatchlings and promoting Con Dao as a member of the Indian Ocean-Southeast Asia Turtle Site Network.
As part of its drive to fulfil its net zero emissions commitment by 2050, Vietnam is fast-tracking the development of a legal corridor to launch a pilot carbon market by the end of 2025, according to the Department of Climate Change.
Under the plan, from 2025 to 2026, the city will complete mechanisms and policies to support businesses in switching to green vehicles, expand the electric and green-energy bus network, and build charging stations. The targeted proportion of green buses is set at 10% in 2025 and 20–23% in 2026.
Storm Comay, the fourth in the East Sea this year, was at around 16.7 degrees North and 118.3 degrees East, in the east of the East Sea's northern waters as of 4am on July 24.
The disaster risk warning level for flash floods, landslides, and ground subsidence due to heavy rains and flows is rated at level 1, except in Nghe An, where it is raised to level 2.
Young people take part in the Earth Hour event in Hanoi on March 30, 2019. (Photo: VNA) 
