Discussions have been open for years but nothing has changed but it seems that now something is moving: an online petition launched by the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (Sima), Non-Profit Consumerism and by the League representative, Andrea Barabotti, has gathered more than 350 thousand signatures to make permanent summer time (which usually runs from March to October) and bid farewell to solar time (which currently runs, from late October to late March).
84% of Europeans support it
The process will take a long time and could be completed by June 30, 2026: in this case, if there is agreement, work will be completed that will lead to a permanent daylight saving time bill. In 2018, the promoter explained in a note, “The European Commission has launched a public consultation involving 4.6 million European citizens: 84% said they supported eliminating the time change. In 2019, the European Parliament approved a proposed directive giving individual states freedom of choice, but the issue is still pending.“.
What are the savings
Just imagine that for 20 years, from 2004 to 2025, daylight saving time has been “allowed savings in the bill for the total 2.3 billion eurosequivalent to lower energy consumption by more than 12 billion kWh (Terna data), and has reduced CO2 emissions into the atmosphere by 160,000 to 200,000 fewer tons per year, equivalent to the emissions absorbed through planting 2 to 6 million new trees”, Sima and Consumerism explained. It is estimated that not changing the time of year could result in very important savings, over 365 days, equivalent to more than 700 million kWh with “cuts” in bills that could amount to 180 million euros.
Health benefits
“Among them positive effect we can also include increased consumption in retail and catering, extension of the tourist season and increased public safety without forgetting the health benefits, considering that the transition to solar time changes the circadian rhythm”, experts explain. When we talk about circadian rhythms we mean the approximately 24-hour biological cycles that regulate our body functions such as sleep-wake, body temperature and hormone production. In short, all eyes are on what will happen on Monday 17 November when the topic will be officially discussed by the Italian Parliament.
EU Opening
In Spain, they are already more advanced: in October, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had requested that the issue be brought to Brussels so that discussions could resume.
The EU opening was also from the European Energy Commissioner, Dan Jørgensen, who explained that a new study would soon be launched on the topic of daylight saving time. “This is a topic of concern to millions of European citizens, even though it is not an absolute priority on the community’s agenda.”.
