Proposal approved in the Argentine Congress provides for adjustments that can reverberate in Mercosur countries, including Brazil
After years of debate, the House of Representatives of Argentina approved a bill that provides for the change in the country’s official time zone.
The measure rekindled discussions about the impacts that this can generate on the routine of the population and, especially, how it can reverberate in neighboring nations – among them, Brazil.
How it works today
Geographically, most of the Argentine territory is situated in the 60 degrees west, which corresponds to the UTC-4 time zone, in which the sun reaches its highest point around noon.
However, since 1970 the country adopted the UTC-3, due to a political decision that disregarded the alternation of the stations. In practice, no region of Argentina is properly aligned with the current zone.
What changes with the project
If the proposal becomes law, the Argentines will have to delay the clocks in one hour from April 1, 2026. From then on, the country would have a double system:
- Winter time (April to August): UTC-4
- Daylight saving time (September to March): UTC-3
In addition, the text provides that the Argentine Federal Government invite other Mercosur countries to coordinate the dates of these changes to facilitate trade and transportation.
It is precisely this point that opens the possibility of changes also in Brazil, if there is adherence to the regional agreement.
Change history
Argentina has undergone several time zone changes over the decades.
The latter occurred in 2009, when daylight saving time was discontinued on the grounds that it did not generate expected energy saving – although reductions in consumption have been recorded in previous years.
Possible impacts
Experts warn that changes of this nature directly affect the routine of the population. Holistic therapist Paula Martín, known as León’s soul, commented on the consequences of the proposal:
“Changing routine often causes anxiety, irritability and drowsiness, which leads to decreased intellectual performance and accumulated tiredness.”
She also stressed that adaptation can be a challenge:
“Changing routine generates additional stress: Adapting to new schedules and adjusting daily activities can be exhaustive and increase the risk of mental health problems.”
With information from La Nación
