Law on Night Sky Protection of 1995

Law on Night Sky Protection of 1995
Gylian Parliament
Date passed	31 March 1995
Date signed	31 March 1995
Date commenced	20 April 1995
Summary
Protects night skies from light pollution.
Status: Current legislation

The Law on Night Sky Protection of 1995 is a Gylian federal law that protects night skies from light pollution.

Background

Although Gylias' low population and demopolitan urban planning paradigms made the phenomenon less severe than elsewhere, population growth and urbanisation still contributed to a growth in light pollution. The environmental movement contributed to growing awareness of the phenomenon in the 1980s–1990s after the launch of the dark-sky movement.

In 1993, the Green Party initiated a debate in the Gylian Parliament on strengthening environmental regulations to address the issue. The debate ultimately produced a draft law supported by the Mathilde Vieira government, which was passed in 1995.

Text of the law

1. This law shall protect Gylian skies against light pollution.
2. Light pollution is understood as excessive artificial light in dark conditions, with negative effects on health and ecosystems.
3. Anyone shall have the right to natural dark conditions, and this shall be the basis of regulations of artificial light.
4. Artificial lighting must be efficient, incandescent, and respect energy conservation. All lighting fixtures must be full-cutoff, spaced appropriately, and pointed only downwards, not allowing light to escape upwards.
5. All uninabited areas are dark-sky preserves.
6. Light shows, fireworks, and similar disruptions to natural darkness shall be regulated in order to reduce their disruption.
7. This law shall produce a reduction in light pollution and energy waste, and an improvement in night skies, especially for astronomic purposes.

Effects

The law combats light pollution by requiring all artificial lighting in Gylias to be energy-efficient, based on incandescent light bulbs, and avoid light escaping upwards. It further mandates that all uninhabited areas be dark-sky preserves, and emphasises that a principal measure of its performance is improving star visibility.

The law fit well with the contemporary economic stimulus program, producing a new phase of public works that replaced Gylias' existing light sources with more energy-efficient and full-cutoff alternatives. Resulting public information campaigns evoked the spirit of the National Obligation period in certain ways, and are credited with fostering greater consciousness of light pollution among urban residents and planners.

The law was supported by other initiatives such as a successful 1999 referendum on promoting natural light in cities. It is credited with having radically transformed Gylian cities, by eliminating skyglow and switching to incandenscent bulbs and low-pressure sodium lights. As a result, Gylian cities are dark or faintly lit at night.

Some commentators noted the advantage of Gylias' low crime rate and respected law enforcement, which reduced fear of dark streets at night.

There were concerns that improper application of the law would result in restrictions that would destroy Gylian nightlife. Various pro-nightlife organisations emerged locally, which later amalgamated politically as the People's Party for a Flourishing Nightlife. This inspired a new area of interest for demopolitans into nightlife and its benefits, and had an impact on urban planning.