Why Artificial Light Should Now Be Legally Classed As Pollution
The Royal Astronomical Society in the U.K. is advocating for artificial light at night to be legally classified as pollution. This call stems from a conference where scientists presented evidence of light pollution's detrimental effects on human health, biodiversity, and astronomical research. The society highlights a 10% annual increase in night sky brightness and links excessive light exposure to various health issues and significant declines in insect populations and nocturnal plant-pollinator interactions. To combat this, the RAS proposes five principles for responsible outdoor lighting and urges governments to incorporate light pollution into environmental legislation. AI
