Resources
Most recent and helpful resources to empower cities to move forward in taking action against light pollution
- Light Pollution Guidelines for Wildlife
CMS Resolution 13.5 “Light Pollution Guidelines for Wildlife” can be found here with the detailed guidelines below. The guidelines include information relating to best practice lighting design and how to manage light pollution for marine turtles, seabirds and migratory shorebirds.
- EUROBATS– Guidelines for consideration of bats in lighting projects
EUROBATS is the Agreement on the Conservation of Populations of European Bats and the ‘Guidelines for consideration of bats in lighting projects’ provide information on how bats respond to artificial light at night, how to carry out impact assessments and ways to avoid, mitigate and compensate for light pollution.
- IDA and IES: Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting
The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) have published the joint Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting so that projects implementing them can save energy and money, reduce light pollution, and minimize disruption to wildlife.
- IDA Values-centred Outdoor Lighting
The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) has adopted a policy known as Values-Centered Outdoor Lighting to implement the Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting.
- Australian Government: Let's switch off light pollution together!
These Light Pollution Campaign Pages include animations, the Australian Light Pollution Guidelines and general light pollution information sheets.
- IDA and IES: Model Lighting Ordinance (MLO) with User’s Guide
The Model Lighting Ordinance (MLO) allows communities to reduce light pollution and glare and lower excessive light levels. It is free to download for members of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES).
- IDA Lighting for Policy Makers
The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) explains why municipalities should be concerned about light pollution.
- Australian Government: Light pollution resources
This webpage offers links to dark sky information and a spot-the-difference activity for kids.
- A plea for a worldwide development of dark infrastructure for biodiversity
This scientific paper written by Sordello et al. details a 4-step operational process which could be adopted to identify, preserve, restore and assess dark infrastructure.
Recommendations to Keep Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society
Recommendations to Keep Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society includes executive summaries and recommendations in five areas:
- The Impact of Satellite Constellations on the Science of Astronomy
- Protection of Dark Sky Oases
- Protection of Ground-Based Optical Astronomy Sites and Related Science
- Protection of the Bio-Environment
- Protection of Radio Astronomy Sites and Related Science
It was developed at the request of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. The section on Protection of the Bio-Environment is of particular interest for helping cities protect their wildlife.
- International Dark Sky Week 2023
International Dark Sky Week takes place from 15-22 April 2023. This website provides information on light pollution and action points such as how to become a Dark Sky Advocate.
- Australian Government – Let’s switch off light pollution together!
The Australian Government’s website offers simple changes that can be made to protect wildlife. There are sections on turtles, shorebirds, seabirds, bats, other mammals and ecological communities.