A global campaign to help control climate change and its effects started in Viet Nam yesterday.
One of its suggestions is that owners of homes and buildings paint them white to reflect the heat and save air conditioning.
“Campaign 350.org calls on all individuals and community groups to propose their own initiatives and plans to reduced carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from 392 parts per million to below 350,” said campaign co-ordinator Hoang Thi Minh Hong.
With the theme Moving Planet, the campaign calls on people to use more bicycles, reduce the use of fossil energy and recycle waste.
A climate camp will be held in the Can Gio ecological area on the outskirts of HCM City to train people about climate change and help residential areas affected. Families and companies will be encouraged to paint their houses and office roofs white to reflect heat and reduce the need for air conditioning.
They will also be told that climbing plants can help reduce indoor temperatures and thus save energy.
A campaign will also be held to strengthen the awareness of students about building green lifestyles and encouraging recycling.
Thousands of Vietnamese will be mobilised to use bicycles or on global action day on September 24.
“I joined the campaign because it relates to myself and everyone around me,” said Miss Grand Slam Asia 2009 and campaign Goodwill Ambassador Tran Thi Huong Giang.
“If we don’t start acting today, it will be too late,” she said.
Initiated in 2007, 350.org is operating in 188 countries.
