I recently had the chance to attend the Going Dark Workshop. This event is dedicated to awareness and understanding of the effects of light pollution on the environment. It was an eye-opening experience that changed my perspective on the impact of artificial light on nature, especially nocturnal wildlife. In this article, I’ll share some of the most important things I’ve learned here and how we can each contribute to reducing light pollution.
What is light pollution?
Light pollution is the excess of artificial light in environments that should be dominated by natural darkness, such as nights. This includes any unnecessary or misdirected light. Examples could be street lights that are too bright, illuminated advertisements or lights escaping from buildings. Although it seems harmless at first glance, light pollution has serious consequences for both human health and natural ecosystems.
The impact of light on nocturnal animals
One of the most shocking things I learned at the workshop was how light pollution affects nocturnal animals. They have developed specific behaviours to navigate and feed in the dark, and artificial light disrupts their natural rhythm.
Examples of impact:
- Migratory birds are some of the most affected. They use their stars and other natural landmarks to navigate long distances. Artificial lighting in cities can disorient them, leading to collisions with buildings or loss of energy and resources.
- Bats are nocturnal animals that depend on darkness for food. Excessive light can prevent them from hunting insects or finding shelter. It can also change the behaviour of their prey, thus reducing food sources.
- Sea turtles, especially hatchlings that hatch at night on dark beaches, are naturally attracted to the moonlight reflecting off the surface of the ocean. Light pollution can disorient them, causing them to go in the wrong direction, which can be life-threatening.
How can we reduce light pollution?
At the Going Dark Workshop, we learned that each of us can contribute to reducing light pollution through a few simple but effective measures:
- Using directional lighting: Installing lighting fixtures that direct light only where needed and reduce light leakage into the sky.
- Reducing light intensity: In many cases, we use lights that are much stronger than necessary. Using dimmer or dimmable bulbs can make a big difference.
- Sensor-based lighting: Installing motion sensors for outdoor lighting can prevent the constant use of lights during the night.
- Use lights of the appropriate spectrum: Choosing warm, yellow light instead of cool, blue or white lights reduces the impact on wildlife and minimizes disruption to the circadian cycles of humans and animals.
- Promoting “nights without lights”: Participating in Earth Hour events or promoting non-essential lights-off periods at the local level can create a significant positive impact.
Conclusions
Participating in the Going Dark workshop was an unforgettable experience. I had the opportunity to meet a lot of wonderful people, passionate about lighting and protecting the environment. The event took place in the idyllic setting of Abbadia di Isola, in the heart of Tuscany, a truly charming place that provided us with the peace and inspiration we needed. A special moment was when we had the opportunity to experience the unpolluted night sky, in an authentic “dark sky”, which reconnected us with the natural beauty of the stars. In teams, we implemented the techniques learned and brought to life a lighting project, using the knowledge gained in the workshop. The team I was a part of took care of the lighting of the church facade.
Participating in the Going Dark Workshop made me realize that light pollution is not just an aesthetic problem of the night sky, but a real danger to biodiversity and ecosystem health. Small actions we can take around the house or in our community can help protect nocturnal wildlife and restore the natural balance.
My advice
I encourage you all to reflect on how you use artificial light. Try to make small but significant changes. We will have the opportunity to enjoy a cleaner night sky. But we will also help nocturnal animals to live in an environment less disturbed by artificial light.
Many thanks to @traversovighy and @lightcollective
Photo credit @widespace_studio