Light Pollution

Light pollution is the over-illumination of cities and night skies by artificial lighting. The invention of the electric light bulb, 150 years ago, was one of the most transformative milestones in history. This new form of light, artificial light, brightened once-dark streets, making them safer and prolonging walking hours into the evening. It also brought electricity to homes for the very first time. Today the light glows, but at a cost.

Despite centuries of use, artificial light at night has only recently been recognized as a cause for environmental concern. Over the past several decades, light pollution has increased an estimated 6 to 10 percent each year. More than a billion people (approximately 23 percent of the global population) live within 100 kilometers of a coastline and due to this, many coastal marine ecosystems are exposed to artificial light at night.