The Ministry of Industry and Trade on February 25 announced that the 2013 Earth Hour Campaign will be from 8.30pm to 9.30pm on March 23.

The campaign aims to raise public awareness of energy saving and the negative impacts caused by climate change, and calls for the switching off necessary lights during that period of time.

As one of the Ambassadors of the Campaign, Danish Ambassador to Vietnam John Nielsen appealed to all members of the community to join hands to protect the earth.

The State, businesses and people need to save energy and protect the environment, and build an economy with green and sustainable development, said Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Le Duong Quang.

The event is sponsored by Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) Group.

According to EVN Vice Director General Nguyen Tan Loc, the country will strive to save more than 2 billion kWh of electricity this year.

In 2012, the Earth Hour Campaign saved 546,000 kWh of electricity in Vietnam, equivalent to over 700 million VND (33,333 USD).-VNA