New comprehensive Light Pollution Report General Content

This is the first report to pull together all the evidence relating to all forms of light pollution and make policy and practical recommendations. We believe that Local Authorities and Government departments have a particular responsibility and must take a lead on reducing the impact of light pollution.

Artificial night lighting is the most obvious threat that needs to be tackled. It disrupts the natural rhythms of light and dark which govern the feeding, breeding and migration patterns of nocturnal insects, including moths, beetles, water fleas and lacewings. This can have a profound effect on ecosystems.

Another developing problem is polarised light pollution. For the whole history of the Earth all flat shiny surfaces that reflected polarised light were ponds or rivers. Suddenly there are thousands of similar artificial surfaces such as plastic sheeting on agricultural fields, shiny tarmac, cars, and now proliferating solar panels. Expectant aquatic insects are attracted to these surfaces and, believing them to be watery habitats, deposit their precious eggs; sadly the eggs all dry and perish in the sun.

The report includes the following recommendations:-

Incorporating patterns of rough or painted glass on the inactive parts of solar panels to break up the polarised light.
Switching off outdoor lights – especially decorative and advertising lighting – between midnight and 5am when few people are active.
Incorporating motion-sensors to switch off security and footpath lighting when not required.
Reducing polarised light pollution by locating car parks away from water bodies and using rough tarmac surfaces.
Avoiding bulbs that emit ultra-violet light, to which invertebrates are most sensitive.
More careful planning of lighting schemes in sensitive locations such as conservation areas, ponds, rivers and the sea.
Routinely including certain light pollution data in Environmental Impact Assessments.
Identifying and protecting wildlife-important areas that currently have low lighting levels, and designating new Dark Sky Preserves.