# CGPM votes to abolish leap seconds > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/cgpm-proposal-to-abolish-leap-seconds > Updated: 2026-10-25T10:05:30.000Z. Sources: 117. Developments: 7. The General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) has officially approved Resolution 5 to abolish the leap second, a move designed to protect digital infrastructure from synchronization errors. During its 28th meeting in Versailles, France, the CGPM confirmed that the practice of using periodic one-second adjustments to reconcile Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) with the Earth’s irregular rotation (UT1) will end. This decision addresses long-standing concerns regarding technical disruptions in telecommunications, financial markets, energy distribution, and space projects. Since 1972, 27 leap seconds have been added to keep atomic time in sync with astronomical time. However, recent observations show that the Earth's rotation speed has become increasingly variable, with some days being shorter than the standard 24 hours. This variability raised the risk of a “negative leap second,” which digital systems are currently unequipped to handle. Under the new regulation, the maximum allowable discrepancy between atomic time and astronomical time will increase from less than one second to up to 3,600 seconds (one hour). This shift allows for a more stable, continuous time scale, potentially replacing frequent small adjustments with an “intercalary hour” or “leap hour” that may not be required for centuries. The transition to this new framework is scheduled to take effect on May 20, 2027. In support of this transition, the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) has voted to uphold the abolition. Noël Dimarcq, president of the BIPM’s time and frequency committee, noted that the new protocol will wait until a full hour is required to re-synchronize with the planet’s rotation, a change that may not be necessary for centuries. ## Claims - The General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) intends to abolish the leap second. (corroborated by 32 sources) - Leap seconds reconcile the difference between Earth's rotation and atomic clocks. (corroborated by 30 sources) - The last leap second was added in late 2016. (corroborated by 29 sources) - Leap seconds can cause disruptions in computer systems and critical infrastructure. (corroborated by 28 sources) - The decision to abolish the leap second will take effect on May 20, 2027. (corroborated by 23 sources) - Leap seconds have been implemented 27 times since 1972. (corroborated by 22 sources) - The General Conference on Weights and Measures is meeting near Paris to decide on the future of the leap second. (corroborated by 21 sources) - The Earth's rotation is gradually slowing and is irregular compared to atomic clocks. (corroborated by 21 sources) - Scrapping the leap second could complicate operations for financial markets and data centers. (corroborated by 19 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-25: General Conference on Weights and Measures to abolish leap seconds The General Conference on Weights and Measures will abolish leap seconds starting May 20, 2027, to prevent technical issues in digital infrastructures caused by discrepancies between atomic and astronomical-tme 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/global-timekeeping-reform-to-eliminate-leap-seconds-by-2027 ### 2026-10-20: International delegates vote to replace leap seconds with leap hour Delegates from 69 countries have voted to replace leap seconds with a “leap hour” system to prevent technical disruptions in digital infrastructure caused by discrepancies between atomic time and Earth'ssese. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/international-delegates-vote-to-replace-leap-seconds-with-leap-hour ### 2026-10-18: General Conference on Weights and Measures to abolish leap seconds in 2027 The General Conference on Weights and Measures will abolish leap seconds on May 20, 2027, to prevent computer system failures caused by the irregular rotation of the Earth. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bipm-votes-to-abolish-the-leap-second-by-2027 ### 2026-10-16: CGPM approves resolution to end leap second adjustments to UTC The CGPM has approved a resolution to end leap second adjustments to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) by 2027, allowing a larger offset from Earth's rotation to ensure digital system stability. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cgpm-approves-resolution-to-end-leap-second-adjustments-to-utc ### 2026-10-16: BIPM to abolish leap seconds starting May 2027 The General Conference on Weights and Measures will abolish leap seconds starting May 20, 2027, allowing UTC to drift up to one hour from astronomical time to prevent technical system disruptions. 32 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/global-timekeeping-system-may-end-leap-seconds-by-2027 ### 2026-10-14: CGPM votes to abolish leap second by 2027 International timekeepers have voted to abolish the leap second by May 20, 2027, to prevent technical disruptions in computer systems, telecommunications, and financial markets caused by irregular time updates. 56 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cgpm-proposes-abolishing-leap-seconds-for-stability ### 2026-10-08: CGPM plans to abolish leap seconds to stabilize global timekeeping The General Conference on Weights and Measures plans to abolish leap seconds to prevent technical disruptions in digital infrastructure caused by the discrepancy between atomic time and Earth's rotation. 21 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cgpm-plans-to-abolish-leap-seconds-to-improve-timekeeping-stability --- Cite as: CGPM votes to abolish leap seconds. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/cgpm-proposal-to-abolish-leap-seconds