As Europe adjusts to the twice-yearly time change, the EU weighs its future in daylight saving time, with some states pushing for abolition and others seeking to keep it.
Most Europeans woke up on Sunday morning with clocks that jumped forward by one hour, marking the start of daylight saving time. Despite its long history and widespread adoption across Europe, the twice-annual time change has been a contentious issue for many.
History of Daylight Saving Time
Initially introduced as a power-saving strategy during World War I, daylight saving time was initially met with skepticism but eventually gained traction across Europe. The practice returned during World War II before being abandoned until the oil crisis in the 1970s, when it was reintroduced to save energy.
Why is Daylight Saving Time Controversial?
The practice has been divisive, with proponents appreciating the extra hour won while opponents argue against the potential disruption to sleep schedules. Research suggests that daylight saving time has a negative impact on the economy as well as people’s health. In 2018, nearly 4 million people supported abolishing daylight saving time in an EU open consultation, prompting the EU to put forward a proposal.
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of temporarily advancing clocks during the summer months by one hour so that people can make the most of the sunlight.
This concept was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1784, but it did not become widely adopted until World War I.
Today, over 70 countries observe DST in some form, with start and end dates varying by region.
The energy-saving benefits of DST are still debated, with some studies suggesting a small reduction in energy consumption.
The Future of Daylight Saving Time
Despite opposition from some EU states, Poland plans to put the issue back on the agenda despite acknowledging opposition within the bloc. ‘We are planning to informally consult member states to see whether it is still feasible to take the proposal forward,’ the Polish presidency said. However, opponents argue that scrapping daylight saving time would be a waste of time, given the EU’s current challenges.
Interestingly, several countries have already adopted daylight saving time, including ‘Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Syria, Turkey, and Uruguay‘ according to the Pew Research Center. Only a third of countries worldwide still observe the practice, with most being in Europe. Egypt also reintroduced daylight saving time in 2023 after initially abolishing it in 2014.
The debate surrounding daylight saving time is likely to continue, with some arguing that it has become outdated and unnecessary. As the EU continues to navigate its challenges, it remains to be seen whether daylight saving time will remain a contentious issue or eventually fade away.
