Mr. Aekvarunyoo Amrapala, BMA Spokesperson and Assistant Secretary to the Governor of Bangkok, revealed that It is an activity in Bangkok by the Environment Department and District Office together with network partners in both the government and private sectors to campaign and invite entrepreneurs, shops, and citizens to reduce energy use and turn off unnecessary lights such as decorative lights, building lights, and advertising signs. Including unplugging unused electrical appliances and reducing the use of air conditioners in homes for 1 hour along with more than 7,000 cities and 190 countries worldwide on Saturday, March 23, 2024, between 8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. All sectors have cooperated in turning off the lights during this period.

This year, 5 main landmarks of Bangkok, namely Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram (Wat Phra Kaew), Grand Palace, Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchaworamahawihan, Giant Swing, Rama VIII Bridge, and Wat Saket Ratchaworamahawihan (Phu Khao Thong) also participated in symbolically turning off the lights. From the calculation of the amount of electricity used during that period in Bangkok by the Metropolitan Electricity Authority, it was found that the Bangkok area was able to reduce the amount of electricity used by 24.65 megawatts when compared to the electricity used in the Bangkok area. On Saturday, March 16, 2024, between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., electricity demand was reduced by 24.65 megawatts, which reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 11 tons, or equivalent to absorbing carbon dioxide from 1,100 trees in 1 year (One perennial tree can absorb approximately 10 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year) and reduced electricity costs by 130,182 baht.

Bangkok has given importance to the problem of global warming, which has an impact all over the world, and has continuously campaigned to raise awareness among citizens and all sectors to see the importance and participation in solving the problem. One of the activities carried out is the activity of turning off the lights for 1 hour to reduce global warming in collaboration with government and private sector networks, campaigning for such activities since 2008. Results from organizing the activity “Turn off the lights for 1 hour to reduce global warming (60+ Earth Hour)” in 2023 in the Bangkok area revealed that we reduced electricity consumption by 36 megawatts and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 5.2 tons, or equivalent to 43 Bangkok-Chiang Mai flights or 31,200 kilometers of diesel cars, or turning off the electricity to 23,400 households. Through continuous activities from 2008 – 2023, we were able to reduce electricity consumption by 22,512 megawatts and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 12,260.6 tons or 81.14 million baht. In addition, there has been cooperation from 30 network partners with Bangkok in implementing actions to reduce global warming in 4 areas, consisting of: 1. Mass transportation, 2. Energy, 3. Green space and 4. Solid waste management. Performance in 2022 revealed that we were able to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in various areas, including public transportation by 1,525.6 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, energy by 24,178 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, solid waste management by 1,140.9 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent and green areas to absorb 131.3 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. The total greenhouse gas reductions of the 30 agencies that year were 26,975.9 tons of carbon dioxide.