Dark side of lightReducing light pollution for an eco-

friendly society

Dr. Jari LyytimäkiEnvironmental Policy Centre,

Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)

LUCI Annual General Meeting 2327 Sept. 2015Helsinki, Finland

Photo ©Moon-WillowStock

”Once there was only dark.If you ask me, the light’s winning”

Rust Cohle TV-series ”True Detective”

(Final of the season 1)

Our culture celebrates (artificial) light as a positive thing

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● Loss of natural darkness has been large, rapidly progressing and the most easily observable global environmental change

● Artificial light at night is still largely uncontrolled environmental stressor

● Causing various adverse effects on ○ Astronomy○ Human health○ Ecosystems○ Culture?○ …and also economy

But bright lights come with a price

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Knowledge base is widening, lot’s of uncertainties

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● Obtrusive light is sky glow, glare or light intrusion causing nuisance and waste of energy and money

● Light pollution refers to the prevention of observation of celestial objects caused by night-time artificial lighting

● Light-at-night that causes adverse health effects

● Artificial light that alters the natural patterns of light and dark in ecosystems

Defining the issue: What is light pollution?

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Astronomical community

Ecological community

Medical community

Lighting community

“Light pollution or obtrusive light is any adverse effect caused by artificial lighting” (Morgan-Taylor, 2015)

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Insights from the web survey

● Online survey in Finland (Nov. 2011-Feb. 2012) ● 20 likert-scale statements focusing on views about light

pollution and use of lighting● Three open ended questions:

○ Sources of disturbing light pollution?○ Places of pleasant natural darkness?○ Personal efforts aimed to reduce the light pollution

or exposure to the disturbing light? ● Over 2,000 respondents representing people

concerned about lighting issues

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Dark skies are preferred…

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….but the reality is more bright

● Already in the late 1990’s ○ 21% of the World population○ 51% of the Europeans○ 72% of the Finns

● were unable to see the Milky Way from their place of residence because of light pollution

(Cinzano et al. 2001)

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Various sources of disturbing light

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Household level actions taken in order to reduce light pollution

● Producing less light (N=952)● Taking cover (N=159)● Staying away (N=129)● Consumer choices (N=69)● Influencing decision-making (N=46)● Awareness building (N=46)● Learning darkness (N=41)

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Avenues for eco-friendly solutions?

● Personal level interest towards lighting and darkness○ A risk for more frequent lighting conflicts

● Importance of public ”light education and communication” ○ Need for showcases of best practices

minimizing light pollution ● Both top-down regulations and bottom-up activities

are required

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● Cinzano P. Falchi F. Elvidge C.D. (2001). The first world atlas of the artificial night sky brightness. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 328 (3), 689-707. doi:10.1046/j.1365-8711.2001.04882.x

● Lyytimäki J. (2015). Avoiding overly bright future: The systems intelligence perspective on the management of light pollution. Environmental Development Doi: 10.1016/j.envdev.2015.06.009

● Lyytimäki J. (2013). Nature's nocturnal services: light pollution as a non-recognised challenge for ecosystem services research and management. Ecosystem Services 3: e44-e48. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2012.12.001

● Lyytimäki J. Rinne J. (2013). Voices for the darkness: Online survey on public perceptions on light pollution as an environmental problem. Journal of Integrative Environmental Sciences 10(2): 127-139. DOI:10.1080/1943815X.2013.824487

● Morgan-Taylor, M. (2015). Regulating light pollution in Europe: Legal challenges and ways forward. In: J. Meier, U. Hasenöhrl, K. Krause and M. Pottharst, eds. Urban Lighting, Light Pollution and Society. New York, Routledge, 159-176.

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References & further reading

D. Robert CC BY-SA 2.0