Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The long-running environmental campaign, 'Turn Off the Lights, Turn On Ideas,' is set to return in 2025 with a renewed message 'Turn Off Fast Living, Turn On Green Living.'
Now in its 15th year, the initiative aims to shift consumer habits toward sustainability while inspiring a nationwide green movement.
Originally launched by BooVironment, a division of the BOO Commercial JSC, the campaign seeks to raise awareness about climate change and environmental pollution.
It aligns with the global Earth Hour event, spearheaded by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). It has grown into an annual fixture in Vietnam, galvanising communities to address pressing ecological challenges.
This year’s campaign emphasises moving away from fast-consumption lifestyles and fostering a sense of patriotism through practical green actions.
Organisers stress that small steps taken today are vital for safeguarding Vietnam’s future, framing a green, clean and sustainable nation as a shared aspiration and a collective responsibility.
The 2025 programme features three flagship activities:
People’s Green Living Innovation Class: Thirty standout young participants will gain expertise and skills to form three to five teams tasked with tackling real-world challenges posed by businesses. These include solutions for waste management, environmental communication, and circular economy practices.
Green Uni Tour (from March 7 to 13): Partnering with environmental clubs at major Hanoi universities, the campaign will host talk shows on waste management solutions. Each event will feature three guest speakers -- a key opinion leader (KOL), an expert, and a corporate partner. The organisers expect to draw 1,000 students.
'Turn Off the Lights' Festival (from March 21 to 22): The campaign’s cornerstone event will celebrate Earth Hour with a festival featuring eco-friendly business stalls and green activities. A highlight will be a star-studded music night, bringing together artists, celebrities, and influencers to amplify the campaign’s message.
ܫ Since its inception, 'Turn Off the Lights, Turn On Ideas' has built a strong legacy of environmental advocacy in Vietnam. The 2025 edition promises to continue this momentum with impactful events designed to ignite widespread enthusiasm for sustainable living./.
Under the deal, VASEP and its member enterprises will prioritise using VinFast electric vehicles for transportation and logistics, while VinFast will offer incentives for VASEP’s staff and member businesses to switch from gasoline to electric vehicles.
Gianpiero Leoncini, Executive Vice President of the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), stressed that Vietnam has all the necessary conditions to become a model for sustainable development.
Beyond traditional sectors, Saskatchewan is eager to expand ties with Vietnam in renewable energy, mineral extraction and processing, and innovation, Kaeding noted.
Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, said the World Bank remains committed to working with the Vietnamese government to develop the next phase of climate resilience and transformation for the Mekong Delta.
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
