Why Artificial Light Should Now Be Legally Classed As Pollution

InnovationScienceWhy Artificial Light Should Now Be Legally Classed As PollutionByJamie Carter,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. An award-winning reporter writing about stargazing and the night sky.Follow AuthorMay 23, 2026, 06:00am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.A view of the Milky Way near a light-polluted area in Porto Cesareo, Italy, on August 6, 2024. (Photo by Manuel Romano/NurPhoto via Getty Images)NurPhoto via Getty ImagesThe U.K.’s Royal Astronomical Society is urging governments to formally recognize artificial light at night as a pollutant, warning that growing levels of light pollution are harming human health, biodiversity and astronomical research.The call follows a major conference hosted by the RAS in January 2025, where scientists, policymakers and environmental experts presented evidence showing the widespread impacts of excessive nighttime lighting.Light Pollution Is Rapidly WorseningLight pollution is increasing. A paper published in 2023 found that the night sky grew about 10% brighter per year from 2011 to 2022, based on tens of thousands of citizen-science observations. A location where 250 stars were visible in 2011 saw only 100 stars by 202. However, according to the RAS, artificial light pollution is no longer merely an inconvenience for astronomers observing the night sky.Light Pollution: Risks To Human HealthThere is mounting scientific evidence connecting excessive exposure to artificial light at night. Researchers say it is increasingly linked to developing serious health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson's and retinal damage. There is also evidence to suggest it directly impacts a person's mood and increases the prevalence of depression and anxiety."There is increasing scientific evidence that both are having a significant and lasting impact...