(VOVworld) - Cities around the world switch off lights in response to the Earth Hour Campaign 2017 on March 25. Some 7,000 cities in 172 countries joined the movement to cope with climate change.

Art performances at the "Switching Off Lights" night. (Photo: VOV5)

Hanoi joined the movement by switching off lights from 20:30 to 21:30 on March 25 with the theme “Switching Off Lights, Switch On the Future.” Minister of Industry and Trade, Tran Tuan Anh, was speaking in the Earth Hour 2017 event in Hanoi: “The campaign has been warmly welcomed throughout the world. Since 2009, the Ministry of Industry and Trade organized the campaign in Vietnam with 9 provinces initially responded to it. Now there are 63 cities and provinces, businesses and people participated in the program. This has raised public awareness in joining world efforts to use power more efficiently.”

Pham Minh Hoang, a first year student of Hanoi University of Science and Technology, said the Earth Hour has been a popular event to remind people of efficient power consumption to protect the environment: “The movement captured the interest of young people with a message about environmental protection by reminding us to simply switch off lights to save energy and protect the environment.”

Vietnam saved up 471,000 kWh during this year’s campaign, reflecting its commitment to reduce 8% of green house emission by 2030.