A study finds ~16% increase (~2% annual rate) in Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) (2014-2022), driven by urbanisation, electrification and infrastructure growth.
Key Details of the Study
- Regional variations in brightness: Surge in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia alongside a deliberate dimming in Europe due to Lighting Regulations.
- US, China, India, Canada and Brazil are brightest nations.
- Rebound Effect: The transition to energy-efficient lighting (like LEDs) has paradoxically increased global radiance as the lower cost of lighting has encouraged more extensive usage.
Light Pollution
- Definition: The excessive, misdirected, or obtrusive application of artificial outdoor lighting.
- Issues:
- Health Impacts: It disrupts human circadian rhythms and melatonin production, causing sleep disorders.
- Ecological Disruption: It disorients migratory birds, endangers sea turtle hatchlings, and disrupts the feeding and breeding cycles of nocturnal wildlife.
- Others: Sky glow obscures the night sky and hinders astronomical research, Economic cost of energy wastage, elevates carbon footprints.
Key Initiatives: Hanle Dark Sky Reserve
Others: Pench (Maharashtra) is India’s first Dark Sky Sanctuary; Adopting Smart lighting etc. |
