The first group of people to bring attention to the growing problem of light pollution were astronomers. At no point in our history have we produced and consumed light more than we do now, bringing an increase in light pollution at an alarming rate, with impacts on our health and the environment, especially nocturnal biodiversity. It has also reshaped our perception of not only the night sky, but also the night.
However, protecting dark skies is a labour of love that relies heavily on collaboration, and the number of people focusing on this topic has never been greater. Thanks to the growing pool of committed people and communities, we have never been better equipped to tackle light pollution. Unlike other pollutants, it's relatively easy to eliminate light pollution and its adverse effects: switch it off and the problem is gone.
That is easier said than done, however, because light pollution is not just an environmental problem, it's also a cultural problem. Even the terms we use, such as ‘brightness’ and ‘darkness’, can be very subjective from both cultural and individual perspectives. Mechanically, it may be easy
