The clocks in the EU go back approximately 56 days before the shortest day (in Canada and the USA it happens a week later), so one would logically assume that they would go forward again after approximately the same number of days, which would be by the end of February (Canada and the USA do so a week later), and not five weeks later, making March virtually a ‘winter’ month. This is ridiculous.

Canada and the USA save upwards of one-and-a-half million tonnes in carbon emissions from having extended their daylight saving, and manage perfectly despite their northern locations.

The European Commission repeatedly warns that carbon emissions must be reduced yet the EU clings to an outdated ‘winter’ period. Why? Perhaps EU Ministers prefer to use air miles and emit emissions from regular but fruitless talks about reductions where no one member state is willing to be the first to make a sacrifice.

A realistic period of Daylight Saving, from the first Sunday in March to the First Sunday in November, would bring about a reduction and treat all member states equally, whilst hardly causing a catastrophe by its introduction. It could even be introduced this autumn – or would that be too simple?

R. Enderby

MUNXAR