Switzerland's Clock Change Impacts Health, Finance, and Environment
Switzerland's biannual clock change, initially introduced to save electricity during the 1970s oil crisis, continues to impact various aspects of life. A recent study by Empa in 2023 suggests that up to 6% of cooling energy can be saved in office buildings by finishing work earlier. However, the time change also brings about unexpected consequences, from increased health risks to financial market fluctuations and even wildlife collisions.
Research indicates that the time change disrupts the body's natural 24-hour cycle, leading to increased risks of heart attacks, strokes, and suicides. In Switzerland, emergency room visits surge by 3.5% to 6.5% following the time change. Furthermore, judges tend to hand down stricter sentences on the Mondays after the clock shift, with studies showing a correlation between the time change and judicial decisions.
Financial markets are not immune to the effects of the time change. Some studies suggest that markets may perform weaker on the Monday after a time change, although the extent and consistency of this impact vary.
The time change also has environmental implications. Forest fires may increase due to the time change, with an average of around 100 additional fires in the USA each year. Wildlife is also affected, with increased risk of collisions due to altered traffic patterns. Despite these impacts, controversy exists among scientists regarding the electricity savings achieved through the time change.
While the biannual clock change in Switzerland continues to influence various aspects of life, from health and finance to the environment, its overall impact remains a subject of debate. As research evolves, so too may our understanding of the time change's implications, potentially informing future policy decisions.
