Morocco has announced that it will revert to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) on September 20, ending its eight-year adoption of GMT+1. The decision, made on June 25, will see the country's clocks turned back by one hour at 2am on Sunday, September 20. This move will bring Morocco in line with its solar time, which many health experts consider more beneficial for health and wellbeing.
The adoption of GMT+1 in 2018 was made with the aim of reducing energy consumption, with estimated savings of 0.17% of national consumption. However, the effectiveness of this measure has been disputed, with some studies suggesting that the benefits were not as significant as claimed. A government-commissioned study in 2018 proposed three scenarios, including maintaining GMT+1, reverting to GMT, or sticking with the seasonal change.
A second study published in June 2019 by the Ministry of Administrative Reform reported that the GMT+1 had resulted in 37.6 GWh of electricity savings in winter, 33.9 million dirhams of fuel savings, and 11,444 tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided. However, the study did not examine the impact on education, health, work schedules, or public services. As a result, the effects of the time change on the daily lives of 37 million people remained largely unassessed over the eight-year period.
Research in health economics has shown that an additional hour of daylight in the evening can lead to a loss of approximately 20 minutes of sleep per night, with documented effects on health and income per capita. These effects are more pronounced among people with morning schedules and those with school-aged children. In Morocco, available data suggest that the lack of morning daylight has significant impacts on daily life.
A survey conducted by the National Federation of Consumer Associations in April found that 61.2% of 777 students and pupils reported feeling insecure during their morning commutes in winter due to the lack of daylight. Two-thirds of respondents also reported poor sleep quality before the first class. Among teachers, three-quarters reported increased absenteeism and tardiness during winter months, with 66.6% citing the early morning darkness as a contributing factor.
The decision to abandon GMT+1 and revert to GMT is expected to have significant impacts on daily life in Morocco. With the country returning to its solar time, many are hopeful that the change will lead to improved health, education, and economic outcomes. However, the economic implications of the change remain uncertain, and it remains to be seen how the shift will affect various sectors, including education and work.
The Moroccan government's decision to end the GMT+1 experiment and revert to GMT marks a significant shift in the country's approach to timekeeping. With the change set to take effect on September 20, Moroccans will no longer have to adjust their clocks seasonally, and the country will align itself with international best practices. The move is expected to have far-reaching consequences, and its impact will be closely watched in the coming months.
Key points
- Morocco will abandon GMT+1 and return to Greenwich Mean Time on September 20.
- The decision aims to improve health and wellbeing by aligning with solar time.
- The impact of the time change on education, health, and the economy remains uncertain.
