HA NOI (VNS)— A campaign entitled Raising Awareness on Climate Change and Energy Saving For Primary School Children was launched at Ha Noi's Doan Thi Diem Private Primary school yesterday.

The programme is a joint effort by the Embassy of Denmark in Viet Nam with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to raise environmental awareness among children through puppet shows.

There will also be a photo contest where children are invited to capture moments of them conserving energy and protecting the environment. These photos will be displayed in an exhibition held in March 2013 as part of Earth Hour.

At the launch, Martin Lidegaard – Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Building, said: "We believe that environmental and energy saving consciousness should begin at a young age. With the support of the Vietnamese Government and various international organisations, we are positive that this educational programme will inspire our children to take action and limit the negative impacts of climate change."

The awareness programme was tailored to school children based on an earlier survey conducted on pupils in Ha Noi. It serves to educate the future generation on the challenges of climate change and possible steps to minimise its impact on the environment.

The programme will travel to 10 primary schools in Ha Noi. There are also plans to develop this into an annual nationwide programme in the long run.

With Little Princess as the main character in the puppet show, children were taken on an odyssey to save her kingdom, and encouraged to use energy efficiently in their daily lives. — VNS