Abstract
Due to the wide reach of media reports about scientific research and technological tools such as the world wide web (WWW), the Internet, and web browsers, citizens today have access to factual information about the negative impact of artificial light at night (ALAN) on their dark skies, and their health and well-being. This means they can now make educated decisions and take the necessary steps to help protect themselves and their communities from disruptive light pollution. Whilst this action is positive and welcomed, unfortunately, according to collected data, not all such initiatives have been successful. Although our understanding of this groundswell movement is deepening, further studies are required to complete a worldwide picture of the current situation. This paper therefore investigates the various actions taken by citizens, as well as the challenges, methods, and tools involved, regarding good practices initiated by grass roots activism on how to reduce existing and potential light pollution. The results of a comparative analysis of 262 international case studies (lawsuits and online petitions) reveal that, since the 1990s, there has been an increase in the number of legal cases related to light pollution due to the rise in public awareness, the availability of scientific knowledge via the Internet, and the ability to take accurate lighting measurements and perform lighting simulations. Also, in the last decade a new tool for digital participation in the form of online petitions has established a new movement of citizen action to mitigate the effects of light pollution. Based on this information, a seven-step framework involving recommendations for citizen action has been developed. It is expected that this new knowledge will benefit those citizens planning future efforts involving the development, implementation, and monitoring processes of outdoor lighting. Additionally, it might support the evolution of planning and policy approaches that are sustainable and necessary to improve the application and installation of ecologically/biologically responsible illumination for towns, cities, and natural habitats.
Highlights
Current studies demonstrate that urban environments in our modern day have continued to become significantly brighter and more illuminated at night, and that man-made light pollution from outdoor illumination that is misdirected, obtrusive, and unwanted has lately increased by more than two percent per year [1].Sustainability 2020, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW apnrdofeaIInsmnstiahottheneeauplrapasaatns,sdtttrh,oaetnmhfioaermstetfeuiprrress.otapsTptlreheooetnopyolnemoobtetsiorceser.nvtTheohedtieucytenhopatbtrhessecekeryudvneegndpltoretewhdcaeetcdffaseeukncsyttesegddolfotehlwifegfehclcaottuspsssoeolodlfuf ttdlihioagenrhklwtonsepsirogeolhlpfutrdtosiakforeinksessniwoaignenhardelt hskiniedseraenddthhienadbeirlietdy tthoevaiebwilitthyetostvarieswcaptheeasbtoavrsec. aTpheisabcoonvcee.rTnhfiusecloendceexrpnrfeusesiloednseoxfpdreissmsioaynsaobfodutislmigahyt paobloluuttiolinghant dpoinlliutitaitoendaanctdioinniatgiaatiendstaictt[i2o]n
The authors have included insights and evidence provided by their previous professional research and hands-on experience based on the following roles: Member of International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) Technical Committee, IDA Delegate, and activism by the leader of the Dunedin Dark Skies Group, all of which involves ongoing work to mitigate light pollution
The growing uncontrolled use of artificial light at night (ALAN) in urban and natural settings often forces ordinary citizens to take action to mitigate its negative impact on the environment and to protect their health, well-being, and life quality
Summary
Current studies demonstrate that urban environments in our modern day have continued to become significantly brighter and more illuminated at night, and that man-made light pollution from outdoor illumination that is misdirected, obtrusive, and unwanted has lately increased by more than two percent per year [1].Sustainability 2020, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW apnrdofeaIInsmnstiahottheneeauplrapasaatns,sdtttrh,oaetnmhfioaermstetfeuiprrress.otapsTptlreheooetnopyolnemoobtetsiorceser.nvtTheohedtieucytenhopatbtrhessecekeryudvneegndpltoretewhdcaeetcdffaseeukncsyttesegddolfotehlwifegfehclcaottuspsssoeolodlfuf ttdlihioagenrhklwtonsepsirogeolhlpfutrdtosiakforeinksessniwoaignenhardelt hskiniedseraenddthhienadbeirlietdy tthoevaiebwilitthyetostvarieswcaptheeasbtoavrsec. aTpheisabcoonvcee.rTnhfiusecloendceexrpnrfeusesiloednseoxfpdreissmsioaynsaobfodutislmigahyt paobloluuttiolinghant dpoinlliutitaitoendaanctdioinniatgiaatiendstaictt[i2o]n. Wide-ranging background research was commenced for a period of six months This inquiry involved an in-depth assessment of published information on external lighting and light pollution that included: Books, scientific research papers, lighting standards, regulations and environmental reports, legal documents of existing case studies, media reports found online, as well as the conduction of in-depth interviews with environmental experts and light pollution activists involved in light pollution disputes. Light pollution (LP) is a broad term, and the International Commission on Illumination has yet Stoustaaginraebeilitoyn20a20d, 1e2fi, xnFitOioRnPEtEoRdReEsVcIrEiWbe the adverse effects of artificial light on the night-time na5tuofr3a3l qenuvainrtoitnamtivene,tdthiraetcatilosnoailm, oprascptsecfltoraral ,lifgahutnaat,trainbdutheus,mwahnisch[3i6n]c.luDdees:p(i1te) Mthaisnl-amcakdoef siknyfogrmlowat;io(2n), gsloamree; (r3e)seliagrhcht etrresshpaavses,raencodg(n4i)zoevdefroliugrhdtiinsgti.nActsfiodremnstiofifeLdPbe[3lo7w] c,oenancehcsteodurtcoeqoufadnitsittuatribvaen, cdeirmecitgiohnt ahla, voer dspifefcetrreanltleigffhetctast.tributes, which include: (1) Man-made sky glow; (2) glare; (3) light trespass, and (4) overlighting. MMaann--MMaaddee SSkkyy GGllooww——TThhee BBrriigghhtteenniinngg ooff tthhee NNiigghhtt SSkkyy OOvveerr IInnhhaabbiitteedd AArreeaass waoiifngaoidCmnmannffrieoeccgeddcttppilllehhhololuaaiinieterMrMtanndcciahfststEcEeceutaaoklltssiaealuuhnntvu,y,rvrhddde--aest.tbemmehheseeerECansscsiwa[an[atgEoo33rrid,drdhlnaera8a8tloeealhratdt]d]slro.tt.ssn’eiiifhiasTnkkaaTvucdts’ttyyhadhusehlsii,etoeoeurceggmavibanansulltnunetoorpytosttminirdswwshhgegeiebtpa,oahah,souiolihattstletssfiaflpneiiclsicsiuscndrugudhknaaeendeinhreyduunmamfiasrfitsutisgdcceintyeitenisaavtdtlfddtftgntpioaberoeeghbenirubrdtrdahai,thydypilnliptdalsdasimuddumolnneitihirrirermgdganrnepeairpahnncgc/neoeaeopdtttd-gq-dsnlilsmrlmiynyeeauieavtegr,tg,avtiuaeul/iphpeipdvpedrppgtstomtnoeerheiwhwiotenlsotaseyhtsveraagraoitnolrmnlerrsiyuyoutrmddentg,aruerriqssitflconcdpnntgueaaehnositasahsisnantaootcplsataoiddtogtmdtemgllrflfldallsrhroeaiieresaracigdnatsdtratnaddihhsdreondlstiiosrtcim,raagtiotsaontorarttfsbteuitiioetoloiocohsoieueognmfoaenntoastnhnnlrhtdaiatvtawc(hnhdi(ngloneaageiaadailbdg.tld.hrgaittgnsheooas.aiie.tmt,ctnbss,srhrersateaessrdvsearrraeareoeosa(tutfrfliFflntltiolalfivnisfiiiiegeigfçoggacwhccscahahnhitutittiaidtaeateagstrolisilddeneinhnnnponso(tdg3fgsfuotFeumrro)odrti[coo.cttfgdt3hdaaatmmsTlgu9honseniohfg]rtroeota.tseneifnhhrhsrcLaeneetaeeliçnliiig3ilgtiinkgagisshng)aatcueds.huhihttotlepwioretirtutuTvsviffosisndia,tansehesrkhcagecoellgteiyyyeeesssss)f,). [t(ciggtnhT4earrr0teeenhor,eei4egesnnts1lvhihhto]sree.oowinwanuuliihssagmaeebyhnssopstdrcvuaseaecakcqntqhyugtucrigecaraearreuetrenisentechesanhotelvhorsrioiiuogansuasulnsenstaeasaeinglslscaadlmaartneitnasvniqqoefocuuanlayyirauraotaeinsfimwcetcbhepoalveiayranigisctdnfutargssanaor.ts)liamostlauSrmlonaktnhntsnydieooofglamynaelrcaoviotcanweufawclbalecfallooriaysenbrtoasdfrutegreseorrrs.dv)comideaSubtekontyinhyofdtcnelgsiisltglaeaio[cehvn3wtstedu9lap]ca.vnforloiLedlssrlaioiuktttruooeteeiwdrrwoscsinbne.disys([eoeT4nc,cf0haittlt,hsnii4isgee1aehsi]ngsv.taldewonpnwdvohiilytmslaouibstwptouoiaorncvcsnhest
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
