DST and italy

Overview of the Proposal for Permanent Daylight Saving Time (DST) in Italy

• The initiative was proposed by the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA) to Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

• It has received transversal consensus among political parties and garnered support from 55,000 citizens in just one week via a Change.org petition.

Context of Climate Change and Energy Crisis

• Governments' commitments towards climate change adaptation and mitigation are crucial, particularly highlighted in a recent editorial in The Lancet Regional Health - Europe.

• The energy crisis driven by international situations has made the goals of the European Green Deal more challenging.

Historical Context of Daylight Saving Time

• DST was initially introduced to cope with energy crises during World War I and II and later reinforced during the oil shortages of the 1970s.

• Permanent DST could potentially lower electricity consumption during winter months, which is especially relevant in the current energy crisis context.

Expected Benefits of Permanent DST

Energy Savings

• Data from the Italian Energy Agency (TERNA) indicates 420 million kilowatt-hours saved in the last seven months due to DST, equating to 190 million Euros (before gas price peaks).

• Over the past fifteen years, the cumulative savings from DST was reported at 10 billion kilowatt-hours, translating to approximately 1.8 billion Euros saved.

• Maintaining permanent DST could generate an additional 500 million Euros in annual energy savings at current gas prices.

Reduction of Carbon Emissions

• Permanent DST could yield a reduction of 200,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to the absorption capacity of about 6 million newly planted trees (each absorbing 10-30 kg of CO2/year).

Health Benefits

• Reduction in particulate matter from heating systems and vehicles, especially when darkness leads to increased usage of these systems.

• The elimination of the negative effects associated with the transition from solar time to DST, including disturbances in sleep patterns and circadian rhythms.

Public Opinion and EU Legislation

• A significant percentage (84%) of citizens expressed discomfort with the current biannual switch to DST.

• The European Parliament allowed Member States to choose between permanent summer or winter time in 2018.

Comparisons with the United States

• The U.S. Senate's approval of the “Sunshine Protection Act” aims at permanent DST adoption starting November 2023, reflecting a broader trend.

• A temporary extension of DST in 2007 led to a 7% average reduction in robberies, attributed to less darkness at peak commuting hours. This resulted in estimated social cost savings of 59 million dollars, along with an additional 240 million dollars due to lower crime rates.

• Permanent DST in Italy could lead to far greater avoided social costs compared to the temporary U.S. extension.

Conclusion

• The Italian government, along with other EU countries, is encouraged to seriously consider the advantages of extending DST as a feasible energy-saving measure.