General information
The time change is by no means uniformly regulated internationally. It is currently observed by less than 40% of all countries worldwide. In particular, it is not generally used by countries in the Äquatorn Äheights, as the duration of sunlight here is subject to much smaller fluctuations over the course of the year than towards the poles.
In addition, the time change is always the subject of discussion and has been introduced by a large number of countries around the world at least once - but has also been abolished by many. Even in Germany - the first country in the world to introduce daylight saving time - it has now been introduced and abolished several times.
In Muslim countries, however, it is common practice to suspend daylight saving time during Ramadan and then resume it afterwards.
In addition, summer time and time zones have repeatedly been used by governments to demonstrate their sovereignty and ability to act by relatively simple means - most recently by Kim Jong Un, who moved North Korea's time zone back by half an hour, thereby unceremoniously replacing the time imposed on North Korea by the 'vicious Japanese imperialists' with 'Pyongyang time'.
To date, there have been a myriad of petitions, referendums and bills on the subject. Here are just a few examples:
- At the end of March 2019, the EU Parliament voted by a large majority to abolish the time change from 2021.
The last time change is to take place in spring 2021, and EU countries that want to keep winter time permanently will change their clocks for the last time in autumn 2021. - In Western Australia, a referendum was held in 2009 on the continuation of daylight saving time after a three-year trial period. In 2008, a special party was founded in Queensland, the DS4SEQ (Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Party), whose only issue was the introduction of daylight saving time in Queensland.
- In Jersey, 72% of people voted against the introduction of CET in 2008. On the island, which is owned by the British Crown but is not part of the United Kingdom, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is observed in agreement with England, although the island is only 22 kilometers off the coast of France. Supporters of the switch to CET argue that there are environmental and tourism benefits, while opponents fear economic disadvantages, as Jersey is heavily dependent on its financial sector and works closely with England - a switch to CET would mean that working hours would shift against each other. Another aspect of the debate is cultural. Many Jersey residents consider themselves closer to France and the continent in their lifestyle, while others expressed their loyalty to the UK by voting 'no' to the referendum.
- Similarly, the clocks in the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank are changed at the same time, but different dates were set in 2008, 2009 and 2010, which caused chaos, especially in Jerusalem, Gaza City and Ramallah, in relation to Ramadan.
- Double summer time - i.e. ultimately changing the clocks by one hour and thus aligning them with Central European Time - has already been discussed several times in the British Parliament, but has always been rejected after often heated debate. The Scots in particular have always rejected this, as it would mean that the sun would only rise at 10am in some regions of Scotland.