The Dark Side of Light: A Transdisciplinary Research Agenda for Light Pollution Policy
Franz Hölker,Timothy Moss,Barbara Griefahn,Werner Kloas,Christian C. Voigt,Dietrich Henckel,Andreas Hänel,Peter M. Kappeler,Stephan Völker,Axel Schwope,Steffen Franke,Dirk Uhrlandt,Jürgen Fischer,Reinhard Klenke,Christian Wolter,Klement Tockner +15 more
TLDR
In this paper, a transdisciplinary understanding of the significance of the night, and its loss, for humans and the natural systems upon which we depend, is presented, with a strong focus on energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions.Abstract:
Although the invention and widespread use of artificial light is clearly one of the most important human technological advances, the transformation of nightscapes is increasingly recognized as having adverse effects. Night lighting may have serious physiological consequences for humans, ecological and evolutionary implications for animal and plant populations, and may reshape entire ecosystems. However, knowledge on the adverse effects of light pollution is vague. In response to climate change and energy shortages, many countries, regions, and communities are developing new lighting programs and concepts with a strong focus on energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions. Given the dramatic increase in artificial light at night (0 - 20% per year, depending on geographic region), we see an urgent need for light pollution policies that go beyond energy efficiency to include human well-being, the structure and functioning of ecosystems, and inter-related socioeconomic consequences. Such a policy shift will require a sound transdisciplinary understanding of the significance of the night, and its loss, for humans and the natural systems upon which we depend. Knowledge is also urgently needed on suitable lighting technologies and concepts which are ecologically, socially, and economically sustainable. Unless managing darkness becomes an integral part of future conservation and lighting policies, modern society may run into a global self-experiment with unpredictable outcomes.read more
Citations
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The ecological impacts of nighttime light pollution: a mechanistic appraisal
TL;DR: A framework that focuses on the cross‐factoring of the ways in which artificial lighting alters natural light regimes (spatially, temporally, and spectrally), and the ways that light influences biological systems, particularly the distinction between light as a resource and light as an information source is proposed.
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Light pollution as a biodiversity threat.
Franz Hölker,Christian Wolter,Elizabeth K. Perkin,Elizabeth K. Perkin,Klement Tockner,Klement Tockner +5 more
TL;DR: In a recent TREE article, Sutherland and colleagues used horizon scanning to identify fifteen emerging issues in biodiversity conservation, including invasive species, synthetic meat, nanosilver and microplastic pollution, but feel they overlooked an emerging problem of great importance and urgency, namely light pollution.
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Artificially lit surface of Earth at night increasing in radiance and extent
Christopher C. M. Kyba,Christopher C. M. Kyba,Theres Kuester,Alejandro Sánchez de Miguel,Alejandro Sánchez de Miguel,Kimberly E. Baugh,Andreas Jechow,Andreas Jechow,Franz Hölker,Jonathan Bennie,Christopher D. Elvidge,Kevin J. Gaston,Luis Guanter +12 more
TL;DR: The first-ever calibrated satellite radiometer designed for night lights is used to show that from 2012 to 2016, Earth’s artificially lit outdoor area grew by 2.2% per year, with a total radiance growth of 1.8% peryear.
Journal ArticleDOI
Why resilience is unappealing to social science: Theoretical and empirical investigations of the scientific use of resilience
TL;DR: The argument that incommensurability and unification constrain the interdisciplinary dialogue, whereas pluralism drawing on core social scientific concepts would better facilitate integrated sustainability research is developed.
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REVIEW: Reducing the ecological consequences of night‐time light pollution: options and developments
TL;DR: The potential consequences for organisms of five management options to reduce night‐time light pollution are examined, including to prevent areas from being artificially lit, limit the duration of lighting, reduce the ‘trespass’ of lighting into areas that are not intended to be lit, and change the intensity of lighting.
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