Bangkok residents unitedfor the "Turn Off the Lights for 1 Hour" eventin 2026 through the energy-saving campaign (60+ Earth Hour 2026) successfully reduced electricity demand in Bangkok by 32 megawatts and cut electricity costs by 144,958 baht compared to the previous Saturday.
On 28 March 2026, Mr. Ekwaranyu Amrapal, spokesperson for Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, announced the success of the "Turn Off the Lights for 1 Hour to Reduce Global Warming" event in 2026 (60+ Earth Hour 2026). Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, through the Environment Bureau, district offices, and partners from government, private sector, and media, campaigned and encouraged businesses, buildings, shops, and the public to reduce energy use by turning off unnecessary lights such as decorative lights, building lights, and billboards, unplugging unused electrical devices, and reducing air conditioner use at home for one hour. This took place simultaneously with over 7,000 cities in 190 countries worldwide on Saturday, 28 March 2026, from 8:30 to 9:30 PM.
This year, three Bangkok landmarks participated in symbolic light outages: 1. Wat Arun Ratchawararam in Bangkok Yai District; 2. Sao Chingcha and Wat Suthat Thepwararam in Phra Nakhon District; and 3. Golden Mount (Wat Saket Ratchawararam) in Pom Prap Sattru Phai District.
According to calculations by the Metropolitan Electricity Authority, electricity use in Bangkok during this period decreased by 32 megawatts compared to the same time on Saturday, 21 March 2026. This resulted in electricity cost savings of 144,958 baht and a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 13.5 tons, equivalent to the carbon absorption of 1,350 trees in one year (each mature tree absorbs about 10 kilograms of CO2 annually). This is comparable to 112 flights between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, driving diesel vehicles for 81,000 kilometers, or turning off lights in 60,750 households.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration places great importance on global warming and energy issues affecting the world. It has continuously campaigned to raise awareness among the public and all sectors about these issues and encouraged participation in solving them. This includes the annual "Turn Off the Lights for 1 Hour to Reduce Global Warming" event, organized with partners from government and private sectors since 2008. Over 18 years, this campaign has saved 22,617megawattsand reduced the amount ofcarbon dioxideby 12,330 tons. In 2025, electricity use was reduced by 134megawatts,cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 58.6 tons.
However, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration thanks all sectors for their ongoing cooperation in reducing energy use. This lights-off event is more than just saving energy for one hour; it aims to encourage everyone to pay attention to environmental issues, help reduce global warming, and adopt sustainable energy-saving habits in daily life. Simple actions include unplugging devices when not in use, switching to LED bulbs, planting trees, reducing car use, and increasing public transport use. When these small efforts unite, they create a powerful force for sustainable climate action.
Information provided by Facebook page of Bangkok Environment Bureau