Russia's DST Abandonment: A Look at Global Time Shifts
Most countries, including those in Europe and the U.S., observe daylight saving time (DST), a temporary deviation from standard time. This practice, first introduced during World War I, involves setting clocks forward in spring and back in autumn. However, Russia abandoned DST in 2014 due to its vast size spanning 11 time zones.
DST begins on the last Sunday in March, with clocks jumping from 2:00 AM to 3:00 AM, costing us an hour. This shift can disrupt our biological rhythms, making us more susceptible to infections and colds during the adaptation period. Trains and other public transport may also face disruptions, as seen in Germany where affected trains wait an hour to maintain punctuality.
The EU has been debating the future of DST since 2018, with discussions centering around whether to permanently adopt summer or winter time. This follows a historical decision by the European Community in response to the 1973 oil crisis to introduce DST. Meanwhile, aircraft operate on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), established in 1972, unaffected by DST changes.
While most countries continue to observe DST due to historical reasons and ongoing debates about energy savings and health impacts, Russia has chosen to adopt permanent standard time due to logistical complications. The future of DST in the EU remains uncertain, with discussions ongoing about potential permanent changes.
