New conference paper by @salvabara argues that "setting total emission limits becomes necessary in order to ensure that the negative effects of light pollution do not surpass red-lines of unacceptable degradation of the natural night."
https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.02724
#DarkSkies #LightPollution #LightingPolicy #Environment
Trust, but verify: Reducing artificial light emissions and monitoring compliance
In order to reduce light pollution we have to reduce the overall amount of artificial light emissions. This is a consequence of the basic rules governing the propagation of light in the terrestrial environment. In this work I revisit the physical laws causing that (i) "all" artificial light emitted outdoors is lost or pollutant, (ii) the negative effects of light pollution depend monotonically on the local concentration of photons of anthropogenic origin, and (iii) this concentration depends linearly on the total artificial light emissions, weighted by the light pollution propagation functions. Setting total emission limits becomes necessary in order to ensure that the negative effects of light pollution do not surpass red-lines of unacceptable degradation of the natural night. Once these red-lines are socially agreed, monitoring compliance becomes a relevant task. Several complementary methods for assessing total light emissions are being used nowadays, including public inventories of installed lights, direct radiance measurements from ground or low Earth orbit satellites, and scattered radiance measurements using ground based detectors (night sky brightness monitoring). While updated administrative inventories could in principle be trusted, independent verification is a must. The required measurements pose in turn significant challenges: we discuss here how the variability of the terrestrial atmosphere sets a lower limit on the minimum emission changes that can be reliably detected by measurements, and propose some ways to improve this performance.
An @ipsos report for the national energy distribution company of France notes (en français) that "80% of elected officials surveyed have already implemented the switching off of public lighting after 10 p.m. in their municipality". (h/t @salvabara)
https://observatoire.enedis.fr/barometre
#DarkSkies #LightPollution #PublicLighting #OutdoorLighting #LightingPolicy #Europe #EU
Lights Out Connecticut and the Menunkatuck Audubon Society recently published this new outdoor lighting policy guidance for CT communities. (Many of the ideas it contains would work well in other U.S. states, too.)
PDF: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62364099627f7f41e163f03b/t/66d22042eb5560458a0a7b45/1725046854369/LightsOutCT_Model_Lighting_Regulations_2024.pdf
#LightingPolicy #OutdoorLighting #LightPollution #DarkSkies #Connecticut
Reducing #LightPollution involves well-known technical solutions, but public policies that implement them often fail. Learn what "lightsheds" are and how they may overcome this obstacle.
https://www.darkskyconsulting.com/blog/lightshed-management-the-next-frontier-in-dark-sky-conservation
#DarkSkies #LightingPolicy #Lightshed
"Lightshed" management: the next frontier in dark-sky conservation?
Image credit: Y. Beletsky (LCO)/ESO 1705 words / 7-minute read
Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB3501
Bill Status - Illinois General Assembly
A new law in Upper #Austria comes into force on 1st May 2024 that regulates public outdoor lighting, including athletic fields. Features include a 10pm-6am curfew; 3000K CCT limit; and full cut-off requirement with 70° maximum beam angle.
https://www.meinbezirk.at/oberoesterreich/c-politik/neues-umweltgesetz-soll-lichtverschmutzung-einschraenken_a6580333
#LightingPolicy #Europe #LightPollution #DarkSkies
Unnütze Beleuchtung: Neues Umweltgesetz soll Lichtverschmutzung einschränken - Oberösterreich
Als erstes Bundesland hat Oberösterreich Regelungen gegen Lichtverschmutzung im oö. Umweltschutzgesetz verankert. Sie geben den Gemeinden Rechtssicherheit bei der Nutzung von Beleuchtungen im öffentlichen Raum.
While people have strong opinions about how outdoor lighting and #crime interact, the truth is very unsettled scientifically. Read more about the shortcomings in current research and practice as well which factors and considerations really matter.
https://www.darkskyconsulting.com/blog/the-thorny-problem-of-lighting-and-crime
#OutdoorLighting #Science #LightingPolicy #Criminology
The thorny problem of lighting and crime
Although subject to widely held folk beliefs, the truth about how outdoor lighting and crime interact is very unsettled scientifically. This post examines the evidence, identifies shortcomings in current research and practice, and suggests the factors and
"A second piece of legislation, the Dark Skies Protection Act, S.7663/A5632 would significantly reduce #LightPollution in #NewYork by requiring most non-essential outdoor #lighting be covered by an external shield, be motion-activated, or be turned off between 11 PM and 5 AM. ... The Dark Skies Act will help create a safer environment for #birds by reducing the #ArtificialLight in our night skies."
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/brad-hoylman-sigal/legislators-advocates-rename-statewide-bird-safe
#UnitedStates #LightingPolicy #ALAN #Flaco
Legislators, Advocates Rename Statewide Bird Safe Buildings Act the “FLACO Act”
NEW YORK — Today, in the wake of the untimely death of Flaco, the Eurasion eagle-owl that captured the hearts and minds of New Yorkers upon escaping from the Central Park Zoo after an individual vandalized his enclosure, New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D/WFP-Manhattan) and Assembly Member Anna Kelles, along with New York City Audubon and Audubon New York (the state office of National Audubon Society), are announcing a renewed push for two pieces of legislation that will make the skies safer for birds.
Although Nantucket Lights' new Outdoor Lighting Guide has "Nantucket in mind", it contains great advice and information that any community would find useful.
Check it out: https://nantucketlights.org/outdoor-lighting-guide
#DarkSkies #LightPollution #LightingPolicy #Lighting #Massachusetts #UnitedStates
Nantucket Lights
Join us in combating light pollution on Nantucket to preserve its dark skies!
Dr. John Barentine FRAS