Memorandum
on the establishment of a legal basis for a sustainable outdoor lighting policy
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased to present the document entitled. “Memorandum on the establishment of the legal basis for a sustainable outdoor lighting policy”, which is the voice of experts on environmental challenges and sustainability requirements for the planning and use of outdoor lighting infrastructure.
The Polish legal system lacks comprehensive solutions that on the one hand would allow to meet people’s needs related to outdoor electric lighting (utility, aesthetic, economic, etc.) and on the other hand would ensure the protection of health, environment and nature from the negative impact of so-called light pollution. Recent scientific research confirms the impact of light pollution on climate change, while uncontrolled and disruptive light emissions from outdoor lighting installations cause a waste of electricity, resulting in measurable economic losses. Finally, improper use of outdoor lighting infrastructure devices deprives humanity of access to its original heritage of naturally dark and starry skies.
At the invitation of the Metropolitan Institute, the substantive work on the document was attended by:
- dr hab. Mieczysław Kunz, prof. UMK (Faculty of Earth and Spatial Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University)
- dr hab. Tomasz Ściężor (Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Energy, PK)
- dr inż. Monika Czaja (Faculty of Biotechnology and Horticulture, University of Life Sciences)
- dr Paweł Drożdżal (Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry PAN)
- dr Sylwester Kołomański (Institute of Astronomy, University of Warsaw)
- dr inż. Anna Kołton (Faculty of Biotechnology and Horticulture, University of Life Sciences)
- dr inż. Krzysztof Skarżyński (Institute of Electrical Power Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology)
- dr Katarzyna Szlachetko (Faculty of Law and Administration, UG)
- dr inż. Przemysław Tabaka (Institute of Electrical Power Engineering, PŁ)
- Małgorzata Zalesińska, PhD (Faculty of Automation, Robotics and Electrical Engineering, PP)
- dr Krystyna Zużewicz (specialist in chronophysiology)
- Bartłomiej Idzikowski (Municipal Urban Planning Laboratory in Łódź)
- Dominika Karpińska (Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management, UMK)
- Piotr Nawalkowski (POLARIS Association – OPP in Sopotnia Wielka).
Substantive consultations on the document were carried out with the Polish Lighting Committee.
The memorandum is a call for immediate legislative action on sustainable outdoor lighting policy and, at the same time, an invitation to debate in this area. The document presents specific postulates and proposed solutions that are necessary to implement a sustainable lighting policy at the central and local level.
Katarzyna Szlachetko
The full text of the document can be found HERE