Dark Sky_Light Pollution_Ljubljana09

Reducing light pollution (inter)nationally: Slovenia’s revealing experience

ContentA very brief introduction to light pollutionSlovene light-pollution law

- reasons

- content

- implementation: success & problemsSpreading the good practice: Light-Efficiency

Law Index

Light pollution: What is it?What is ‘light pollution’

Introduction of any artificial light into the natural environment.

EffectsBiologicalHealthWaste of energyAesthetic (Dark-sky as natural & cultural heritage)

Light pollution: What causes is?Unshielded lightingLack of spatial planningExcess of lighting (sources of light & levels of

illumination)Marketing (illuminated billboards)

Efforts to reduce light pollution

Beginning of the problem: 1970a1988: Canary islands, Chile1990: International Dark-Sky Association established1997: Law region Veneto2000: Law region Lombardija2001: Catalonia, 2002: Czech republic, do 2007: 17

regions in Italy2007: Slovenia

1. specific, national law

Slovene light pollution law

All photos: A. Mohar

Decree on limitation of light pollution of the environment, Sept. 2007

Similar to the laws in several Italian regions; copied good practice from them

0% above the horizontal45,5 kWh / capita active implementation, dimming,

planning

No sky-beamers

Billboards - illuminated from above

Cultural monuments and industrial buildings 1 cd/m2

Effects of the law

From 1970 to 2007 2008

250 W 150 W (FCO)+20 % Higher levels of road illumination

20082007

Old luminairesNew luminaires

Problems with implementationLobbies:

marketing lobbythose who sell luminaires also do the planningmutual benefits in illuminating the roads (business/soft

forms of corruption?)Deeply embedded culture of illuminationSafety issuesMunicipalities are short-sighted in their investments

International contextDo all light pollution laws protect dark-skies?

Internationally agreed modelInternationally respected standard

Light-Pollution Law Efficiency IndexProposals to be worked upon

Slovene law

Lombardy law

UK nuisanceFlanders law

Catalonian law

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A. Mohar: LEX – Light-pollution Law Efficiency indeX

Protection

Degradation

Initiative for an International Association of Dark-sky Parks

http://www.darkskyparks.org

…Implementation of the Starlight Declaration (2007)

“Control of obtrusive light must be a basic element of nature conservation policies and should be implemented in the management plans of the different types of protected areas to fulfil their mission in protecting nature and biological diversity.” (Principle 5)

“…all those protected areas which combine exceptional landscape and natural values relying on the quality of their night sky, are called to include the protection of clear night skies as a key factor strengthening their mission in conserving nature.”(Principle 10)

The ideaThe purpose of protected areas Influence urban areasProfessionals are needed

Not an organisation yet!To include large circles, consensus, strong committment

Summary / IssuesHow to be changing the habits (the ‘culture’) and the

associated practices and even legal norms (laws)?How to challenge the notion that more is not

necessarily good? (The case in many other environmental problems)

How to get the wheel running on the international plane? (Export the good practice while protecting the accomplishments at home)