Time Zone Confusion Grips U.S. and Europe as Daylight Saving time Transitions Differ
New York and London - A brief period of scheduling disruption is impacting transatlantic meetings and personal calls this week as the United States and Europe navigate differing Daylight Saving Time transitions. The confusion stems from the staggered dates when each region “falls back” to standard time.
Most of the world does not observe Daylight Saving Time, and even among those that do-primarily in Europe and North America-the timing varies due to differing ancient and legislative developments.
In the U.K. and across Europe, clocks turned back one hour at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday in October. However, the U.S. and Canada will follow suit at 2 a.m. on the frist Sunday in November. This creates a week-long window where the time difference between the two continents is reduced to five hours rather of the usual six, potentially leading to missed appointments or early-morning wake-up calls.
The practice of Daylight Saving Time dates back to World War I, when Germany and Austria first shifted clocks forward in the summer of 1916 to conserve energy. The U.K.,the U.S., and Canada soon followed. While Europe standardized its clock changes in 2002, adjusting clocks on the same days in March and October, wider coordination has proven elusive.
In the U.S., a 1966 law established uniform Daylight Saving Time, though the specific dates have been modified. In 2022, the Senate unanimously approved legislation to make Daylight Saving Time permanent nationwide, but the measure stalled in the House. The current dates were set by Congress in 2005.
Ongoing debate surrounds the benefits of seasonal time changes, with lawmakers in both the U.S. and Europe considering proposals to abolish the practice altogether. As of now, no changes have been finalized.
