The debate over seasonal time changes continues, with growing concerns about their impact on public health. While the clocks will once again move forward at the end of March for daylight saving time, discussions about permanently abolishing this biannual practice are intensifying.
The Health Impacts of Time Changes
Experts warn that changing the clocks can have serious consequences for mental and physical health. Studies suggest that disruptions to circadian rhythms may increase the risk of diabetes, metabolic disorders, and cardiovascular issues. These findings have prompted renewed efforts to put an end to seasonal time adjustments.
A Plan for Abolition
In September 2018, the European Commission proposed eliminating time changes altogether by 2021. According to the news site Sortira, an overwhelming 84% of Europeans voted in favor of this change.
However, the decision was ultimately left to individual EU member states, allowing each country to choose between adopting permanent winter or summer time. Governments were given until April 1, 2020, to make their decision. But with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, the energy crisis, and the war in Ukraine, more pressing matters took precedence, delaying action on time change policies.
By 2021, a new deadline was set: the final seasonal time change would take place in October 2025, with the system being abolished in 2026. If this plan holds, the upcoming switch in October 2025 will mark the last daylight saving time adjustment in history.
The History of Time Changes
Seasonal time changes were first introduced in the 20th century as an energy-saving measure. In winter, people had to turn on their lights earlier due to shorter daylight hours, so adjusting the clocks was seen as a practical solution to reduce electricity consumption. Over time, most European countries adopted the system.
However, modern research suggests that the benefits no longer outweigh the costs. Not only is the original energy-saving goal largely obsolete, but studies also highlight negative effects on human health.
The Scientific Evidence
The editorial team of Událostí247 reviewed multiple studies on the adverse health effects of time changes. Research from the National Library of Medicine reveals that shifting the clocks disrupts circadian rhythms, which regulate immune function and cardiovascular health. Disturbances in these rhythms increase the risk of various diseases, including diabetes and some forms of cancer.
Moreover, circadian rhythms also influence hormone production, including cortisol and melatonin. When these rhythms are disrupted, hormone levels become imbalanced, leading to sleep disturbances, daytime fatigue, and reduced energy levels.
The Future of Timekeeping in Europe
If the current plan proceeds as scheduled, 2026 will mark the end of daylight saving time in the EU. Each country will then operate on a single, fixed time year-round, putting an end to the decades-old practice of adjusting clocks twice a year. Until then, Europeans can expect to turn their clocks back once more in October 2025—potentially for the last time.