Ho Chi Minh City will soon launch the fourth annual campaign “Green Consumption” in a bid to improve people’s awareness of environmental protection and help businesses who invest in green technologies.

In 2012, around 200 firms were investigated for allegedly harming the environment and 67 of them were found violating environmental laws. They were fined over 3 billion VND (148,000 USD), and eight of them were shut down.

Despite the fact that the penalty has increased sevenfold to 500 million VND (23,800 USD), many companies continue with their polluting ways.

In the last three years, the campaign attracted more than 9,000 youths and over 1 million other people who pledged to use green products.

A new feature in this year’s campaign will be a public vote for the best green products and enterprises.

Every citizen will be encouraged to join the campaign by sharing images of things they did to participate. The best photos will receive prizes.

“Green Consumption” has proven to be an effective campaign and is hoped to spread nationwide.-VNA