Move to legislate light pollution
LIGHT pollution is defined as any artificial outdoor light that is excessive, misdirected or invasive. Reducing light pollution does not mean turning off all the lights but being sensible about using appropriate lighting.
Spearheaded by the National Space Agency (Angkasa), Malaysia was supposed to formulate a light pollution legislation two years ago after it was found that severe light pollution in Kuala Lumpur city affected the observation work at the National Planetarium. But there has been a deafening silence over the promulgation of this law since then.
Light pollution nuisance is incorporated in Australia’s Environment Protection Act (1997). Britain introduced a law to regulate light pollution in 2006 under Section 102 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (2005). The law focused on obtrusive artificial light that strayed into residents’ properties and public lighting that spill light to the night sky, producing glare.
Reducing light pollution also reduces environmental pollution from the burning of fossil fuel for electricity generation. It was estimated that night-time lighting releases more than 21 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually in the United States of America alone.
Cutting down carbon dioxide emission by reducing unnecessary use of artificial lighting will help ease global warming.
Moreover, about 30% of outdoor lighting are poorly designed, thereby contributing to an excessive waste of energy as only 40% of the light is productive (lights up the areas intended). Ten per cent of the light is glare and the remaining 50% is wasted by sideways and upwards illumination.
Light pollution leaves a great impact on the ecosystem as well. According to an American plant biologist, Winslow Brigg, “prolonged exposure to artificial light prevents many trees from adjusting to seasonal variations.”
Essentially, light pollution changes the night-time environment into “day”, thereby disrupting the breeding rituals of nocturnal amphibians such as frogs and toads, and inadvertently reduces their population. Frogs and toads are important in the ecological system because they keep the population of insects in check.
There are about 20 places in Malaysia where fireflies can be watched. But the very existence of fireflies is threatened because they depend on the flashing of their taillights as a courtship communication. Malaysia is host to seven of the 20 species of fireflies. Studies have shown that light pollution has caused their population to decline.
Birds are also becoming victims of artificial light. They were found to build nests in the autumn instead of spring after being exposed to artificial light for a long time. Some species are attracted to light sources at night and become easy prey for predators.
Birds that migrate during the night stray off course because of the artificial light of the cities, causing them to collide with illuminated buildings and structures. Artificial light also gives false seasonal cues, causing them to migrate either too early or too late, and this can be disastrous for their species.
It has also been found that light pollution alters animal behaviour, foraging areas and breeding cycles in both urban and rural locations.
The eggs of sea turtles hatch at night and the hatchlings head to the sea by moving towards the bright horizon over the ocean. Due to the presence of artificial light, the hatchlings instinctively move landwards to their doom. Millions of hatchlings in Florida die because of this every year.
It was found from satellite observations between 2012 and 2016 that the growth of light pollution is highest in developing nations. Developing countries in the tropics have a high concentration of biodiversity but not economic wealth.
Furthermore, many of the species are facing enormous pressure in the already fragile ecosystem wrecked by wildlife trafficking, deforestation, pollution and urbanisation.
Light pollution is aggravated by the much brighter light emission diode (LED) bulbs.
In view of the multitude of problems caused by light pollution, we would like to urge local researchers to conduct studies on the effects of artificial light on our ecosystem. We also believe that the introduction of a law on light pollution is timely.
Angkasa is concerned, and rightly so, about the negative effects of light pollution on its work.
However, our law makers should take a wider view of the problems related to light pollution and take action to regulate it as soon as possible.