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The worst drought in Brazil's history has led the Lula government to consider bringing back daylight saving time. The measure, which was discontinued in 2019, could return in an attempt to avoid energy rationing.
Brazil is facing the worst drought in history, and the federal government may be planning drastic action that has already been abolished: the return of daylight saving time.
The drought that is punishing the country has had a profound impact on energy generation, and extreme measures are beginning to be discussed behind the scenes at the Ministry of Mines and Energy. But is this the only viable solution or just a short-term palliative?
According to sources, the Ministry of Mines and Energy is studying the resumption of daylight saving time as a way to minimize the risk of electricity rationing.
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The lack of rain has severely impacted reservoir levels, and forecasts are not optimistic. This measure, which has divided opinions in Brazil for years, could return to the national scene in an attempt to prevent the country from facing a new energy blackout.
A controversial return: what does the government have in mind?
Since it was extinguished in April 2019 by then-president Jair Bolsonaro, Daylight saving time is no longer used in Brazil.
The idea of its return had been considered in 2023, when a severe drought hit the country. However, at that time, Lula's government technicians ruled out the possibility.
At the time, Brazil's water reservoirs were in relatively good condition., even with the lack of rain. Now, however, the situation seems to have changed drastically.
According to the newspaper Poder 360, the possibility of returning to daylight saving time has been discussed again in the government corridors. At the moment, the situation of the reservoirs is not yet considered as critical as in previous crises, such as the one in 2021, but the alert has already been raised.
The devastating impact of the 2024 drought
This year, Brazil faces one of the most severe droughts in its history, according to data from Cemadem (National Center for Monitoring and Alerts for Natural Disasters).
The Madeira and Negro rivers, in the Amazon region, record alarmingly low levels, which directly affects riverside communities, which now face isolation and difficulties in supply.
Manaus, the capital of Amazonas, is also feeling the devastating effects of this drought, and climate projections do not indicate an improvement in the short term.
During a visit to the North of the country, o President Lula announced the creation of the climate authority and the implementation of a climate emergency legal framework, a government effort to mitigate the impacts of global warming in Brazil.
Emergency measures to avoid a blackout
The government is not just discussing the return of daylight saving time as an emergency measure. Other actions have already been taken to deal with the looming energy crisis.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy authorized the operation of gas-fired thermoelectric plants to meet part of the energy demand. Among the authorized plants are those of Santa Cruz, in Rio de Janeiro; Linhares, in Espírito Santo; and Porto Sergipe, in Sergipe.
In addition, energy tariffs were also impacted. The increase in tariff flags was already a direct consequence of the drought, causing consumers to feel the impact of adverse weather conditions in their pockets.
Reservoirs in critical condition?
Despite the worsening drought, some government officials They claim that the level of water reservoirs has not yet reached a point as critical as in previous crises, like the one in 2021.
Measures adopted throughout 2024, such as retaining water in reservoirs, helped to avoid a greater catastrophe. Today, the volume of water is more than double that recorded in the last major crisis, but the future remains uncertain if the drought continues.
With climate forecasts pointing to a possible worsening, The question remains: is Brazil prepared to face a new energy collapse??
And now, daylight saving time or rationing?
The government faces a difficult choice: bet on a measure that has already been rejected or move forward with more drastic alternatives, such as energy rationing.
The return of daylight saving time, a controversial solution, may be seen as an emergency measure to save time. But is this really the best choice?
With unpredictable weather conditions and the impacts of drought devastating several regions of the country, Brazil may be at a turning point. Adopting new strategies to deal with the water and energy crisis will be crucial in the coming months.
Do you think Brazil should bring back daylight saving time or look for other solutions? Leave your opinion in the comments!
