Greenland plans to abolish daylight saving time by 2028
Greenland’s government has announced support for a proposal to permanently end daylight saving time starting in 2028, state broadcaster DR reports.
The decision, backed by a parliamentary majority, means the time difference between Greenland and Denmark will shift to four hours in summer and remain at three hours in winter. The proposal now moves to a third reading in Greenland’s parliament, Inatsisartut, scheduled for May 15.
Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen confirmed the government’s position during Tuesday’s debate, stating: “Naalakkersuisut [Greenland’s government] respects the wish expressed by the majority in the Legal Affairs Committee. Therefore, we intend to abolish daylight saving time.”
The move follows a 2024 petition signed by 2,700 people calling for Greenland to revert to its pre-2023 time zone (UTC-3) and scrap daylight saving adjustments. Critics argue the current system—where the sun reaches its peak as late as 3 PM in northern Greenland—disrupts daily life, particularly for children’s sleep patterns and workers in fishing and hunting.
“Our children struggle to fall asleep in the evening and to wake up in the morning. Everyone feels it,” said Qupanuk Olsen, a former Naleraq politician elected in 2025 on a platform advocating time zone reform. She highlighted delays for fishermen and hunters, who must wait an extra hour for daylight, shortening their workday.
However, the government rejected a separate proposal to revert to the pre-2023 time zone (UTC-3). Business leaders, including Christian Keldsen of Greenland Business, warned that changing time zones would harm trade with Denmark and Europe. While supporting the end of daylight saving time, Keldsen cautioned that Greenland’s unilateral move—out of sync with Denmark and the EU—could create logistical challenges.
“There will be one time zone in spring and another in autumn. That could cause confusion,” he said.
The final vote on abolishing daylight saving time is expected on May 15.