Light Pollution of the Night Sky: Legal Protection

Abstract

Introduction. The object of this study is the problem of light pollution and its impact on the environment and human health. The relevance of the topic is due to the growing concern of the scientific community and the International Astronomical Union (IAU) about light pollution, which disrupts the natural cycles of day and night, affects ecosystems, and impacts human health. The aim of the study is to analyze existing legal norms and develop proposals for improving legislation in the field of environmental protection from light pollution. The tasks include studying international experience, analyzing Russian legislation, and developing recommendations for its improvement. Methodology and materials. The research is based on the general theory of law and the theory of environmental law. The study was conducted using general scientific (dialectical and functional) and special legal (formal-legal and comparative-legal) methods. The article analyzes regulatory legal acts, scientific publications, and data from international organizations. General scientific methods were used for the analysis and synthesis of information, while special legal methods were used for the interpretation and systematization of legal norms. Research results and their discussion. The study showed that light pollution has a negative impact on the environment and human health, disrupting the natural cycles of day and night and affecting ecosystems. The analysis of foreign experience showed that different countries apply different approaches to the regulation of light pollution, including the establishment of lighting standards, the introduction of time periods for minimizing outdoor lighting, and the restriction of advertising using LED screens. Russian legislation lacks special norms aimed at protecting the night sky from light pollution, which hinders the implementation of state policy in the field of environmental protection. Conclusions. The results of the study allow us to conclude that it is necessary to develop and implement special legal norms aimed at protecting the environment from light pollution. The proposed measures include the establishment of maximum lighting standards, the introduction of time periods for minimizing outdoor lighting, mandatory preliminary coordination of outdoor lighting projects, and the restriction of advertising using LED screens. The implementation of these measures contributes to improving the quality of life of people and preserving biodiversity, as well as corresponds to the tasks of environmental protection.