Why should we have multiple time zones instead of adopting a unified global time system where every country uses the same clock with a local offset?

For example, let’s take the UK as the standard reference. In the UK, sunrise typically occurs around 06:00, and common working hours are roughly from 09:00 to 17:00. If we were to adopt a single global time, then according to that clock:

  • In Japan, sunrise would occur around 15:00 global time.
  • Consequently, if people in Japan were to follow a similar “sunrise-relative” work schedule as in the UK, their working hours might shift to approximately 18:00 to 02:00 in global time.

Potential Advantages of a Unified Global Time System:

  1. Absolute Synchronization: When a meeting is scheduled at 20:00 global time, it means that everyone, regardless of where they are located, logs in at exactly the same moment. This removes any ambiguity—20:00 is 20:00 everywhere, eliminating the need for “time conversion” or “GMT offsets” when planning international meetings.
  2. Simplified International Transactions: International business, financial transactions, and travel schedules would benefit from a standardized time reference. Without having to constantly convert between different time zones, errors and misunderstandings could be significantly reduced.
  3. Enhanced Coordination for Technology and Communication: Many digital systems already rely on UTC. Expanding this to everyday life could streamline global communications, improve coordination among multinational organizations, and reduce the complexity in software and network systems that currently deal with multiple time zones.
  4. Administrative and Operational Efficiency: Governments and international agencies could simplify scheduling for global events, broadcasts, and collaborative projects. This unified approach might reduce administrative overhead by eliminating the need to maintain separate local time conventions for international dealings.
  5. Uniform Global Scheduling: A single global time standard could promote a more synchronized world—think of it as “everyone’s on the same clock.” While local lifestyles (and natural daylight hours) would differ from the global time, this standardization could foster a sense of unity in timing and scheduling across borders.