The report published by the Light Pollution Think Tank (LPTT) in 2023 is the first document in Poland to comprehensively diagnose the level of light pollution in the country (as of the end of 2022). The report is based on quantitative indicators describing the amount of light emitted into the sky (into space) and the brightness of the night sky illuminated by excessive artificial lighting. An integral part of the report is an analysis of legal solutions that could help counteract light pollution, as well as an overview of the activities of Polish institutions, organizations, and local governments involved in studying and protecting the natural night-time environment.
Read the report in PDF: lptt_report_2023_eng.pdf
The report shows that light pollution:
- is widespread in Poland and is intensifying. This is confirmed by the amount of light emitted into the sky (in 2022 it was the highest in the history of measurements, 6% higher than the 2012–2021 decade average) and by the brightness of the night sky (in 2022 it was on average 147% brighter than the natural sky; in cities, several thousand times brighter);
- exerts strong pressure on human health and the natural environment. In 2022, skies contaminated by excessive light were present above the heads of all Polish residents, and for 20% of them the sky was too bright to feel that true night had begun. Threats were also identified for national parks, especially those adjacent to urban agglomerations;
- is not interpreted as a threat within the Polish legal system. Regulations in force in 2022 either did not reflect the problem of excessive light or were limited to recommendations and guidelines that were not mandatory. Protection of the natural night was informal in nature and resulted from grassroots initiatives;
- is not monitored by any state authority. In 2022, observations of excessive light in Poland were carried out by universities and scientific institutions, as well as by non-governmental organizations..
Low public awareness of light pollution, combined with the uncontrolled brightening of the night, suggests that the diagnosed problem will continue to intensify. This is likely also due to the mass modernization of public lighting—desirable in principle, but often involving unreflective installation of LED lighting. In light of the above, the expert team of the Light Pollution Think Tank recommends the following most urgent actions:
- including light in the definition of emissions, and consequently assigning it emission standards consistent with the current state of scientific knowledge on the negative effects of light pollution; clarifying and implementing technical and building standards as binding law;
- developing and implementing a national policy of sustainable lighting, which would rationalize the use of public and private lighting installations, thereby reducing light pollution in affected municipalities and preserving the natural night-time environment from degradation where it is still relatively undisturbed.