On March 28, Kazakhstan will once again become part of the global environmental movement, the Earth Hour campaign .

At exactly 8:30 PM local time, lights will go out for one hour in homes, offices, and streets across the country,  DKNews.kz reports .

But in reality it’s not about the darkness, but about what lies behind it.

This is a rare case when a simple gesture – turning off the lamp – becomes part of a global idea.

How One City Launched a Global Movement

Earth Hour began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, when more than two million people simultaneously turned off their lights to draw attention to climate change. The initiative was initiated by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Since then, the event has grown to global proportions: today, it takes place in more than 190 countries. At this hour, the lights of the world’s most recognizable symbols—from the Eiffel Tower to the Colosseum—dim.

And this isn’t just symbolism. It’s a signal: people are ready to take action.

Photo: Vladislav Vodnev

Kazakhstan is no newcomer

Participation in the event has already become a tradition for Kazakhstan. In 2026, the country will join Earth Hour for the 17th time. This first occurred in 2009, when volunteers and environmental organizations supported the initiative.

Over the years, the stock has grown significantly:

• Previously, it was mainly government agencies and large companies that participated
• today schools, universities and youth communities are getting involved
• children and teenagers are more actively involved

And this is a significant shift. Ecology is gradually ceasing to be a topic for show and becoming part of everyday thinking.

When the light goes out, awareness lights up

It’s important to understand: Earth Hour isn’t about saving electricity overnight. It’s about paying attention.

It’s about stopping for a minute and asking yourself a simple question:
how do my daily habits affect the environment?

According to WWF Central Asia Director Ekaterina Nakashidze, the campaign has long since gone beyond a symbolic gesture:

“The lights go out for an hour, but at that moment something much more important comes on – an awareness of responsibility for nature and the climate.”

In this sense, Kazakhstan plays a special role. The country effectively represents Central Asia on the global environmental agenda.

What exactly is happening in Kazakhstan?

Every year, during the event, the lights at iconic landmarks across the country are symbolically turned off. These include:

• Presidential Residence “Ak-Orda”
• “Baiterek” monument
• Astana Opera
• Nazarbayev University
• Hotel “Kazakhstan”
• Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

And this is not just a gesture – it is a demonstration that the issue of ecology is reaching the level of state and public responsibility.

Why is this important now?

Environmental issues—from climate change to air pollution—are no longer distant matters. They directly impact quality of life.

And here Earth Hour works as a reminder:

• decisions are made not only at the state level
• Much depends on the daily actions of each person
• Change begins with simple steps

Photo: Vladislav Vodnev

How to join

Everything is as simple as possible:

On March 28 at 8:30 pm,
turn off lights and electrical appliances for one hour.

You can spend this time differently:

• have a candlelit dinner
• go for a walk
• talk to loved ones without gadgets
• or just be in silence

More than a share

Ilya Sukhonosenko, Executive Director of the Association of Environmental Organizations of Kazakhstan, notes that over the years, Earth Hour in the country has evolved from a one-time initiative into a sustainable movement.

And this is perhaps the main thing.

Because real change happens not when the lights are turned off for an hour,
but when people’s attitudes toward the world around them change.

Sometimes, to see what’s important, you just need to turn off the light for a while.

https://dknews.kz/ru/v-strane/388667-kazahstan-na-chas-pogruzitsya-v-temnotu-radi