Daylight Saving Time (DST) in 2024 will see clocks “spring forward” on March 10 and “fall back” on November 3 in most regions. This practice of adjusting the clocks by one hour during the warmer months is aimed at maximizing daylight during waking hours. As people prepare for the time shift, it’s worth exploring the history and reasons behind DST.
The concept of DST dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with early proponents like Benjamin Franklin, who suggested the idea to save candles by waking up earlier. However, the modern version of DST was first implemented during World War I by Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1916 as a way to conserve fuel and energy during wartime. Other countries, including the U.S. and U.K., soon followed suit.
DST was briefly discontinued after the war but was reintroduced during World War II for similar reasons. Since then, many countries have adopted the practice, though it has been subject to ongoing debates. Proponents argue that DST reduces energy consumption by extending daylight in the evenings, encouraging outdoor activities and reducing the need for artificial lighting. Critics, however, question its effectiveness in energy savings and point to health concerns related to sleep disruptions and circadian rhythms.
In recent years, some regions have moved away from DST altogether, while others continue to tweak the dates for clock changes. In the U.S., DST begins on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November. As clocks are set to shift again in 2024, the debate around the relevance of DST remains as strong as ever, with growing calls to end the practice or make daylight saving permanent.
