WRITTEN QUESTION E-1207/02

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE), Guido Podestà (PPE-DE)and Amalia Sartori (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 April 2002)

Subject: Light pollution

The continual increase in light pollution is reaching worrying proportions.

In Italy and many other European countries it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish the smaller heavenly bodies and in some cases impossible even to see the Milky Way with the naked eye.

Apart from a pointless waste of energy and money, this phenomenon also has adverse effects on human health (it can lead to problems of myopia and hormonal disturbances with potentially teratogenetic effects), on fauna (influencing hunting, reproduction and migration habits) and flora (affecting photosynthesis and photoperiodism).

Equally important is the harm done to the scientific study of the cosmos, a branch of science which from the very dawn of civilization has influenced, stimulated and fascinated mankind and helped it to develop.

Well-documented research predicts that, if nothing is done, the luminosity of the sky will increase at a rate of 10 % per year.

No limits have been placed on the expansion of this phenomenon (except for a number of regional laws), because of the lack of interest on the part of the bodies responsible both in Italy and the rest of Europe.

What measures will the Commission take to introduce specific and uniform controls on this type of pollution?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(7 June 2002)

The Commission would like to refer the Honourable Members to its replies given to a number of written questions on the issue of light pollution: written questions E-0514/96 by Mr Teverson(1), E-2789/98 by Mr Watson(2) and E-3301/00 by Mr McNally(3).

The environmental and health impacts of light pollution due to excessive and badly designed outdoor lighting still have to be demonstrated and consequently the Commission is not considering making proposals for action at Union level in this area. We also need to bear in mind that the design and intensity of outdoor lighting are in general the responsibility of national or even local authorities which have to take into account other elements such as safety and security factors when authorising such installations.

However, the Commission would agree with the Honourable Members that wherever possible we should reduce wasteful energy uses and improve the energy efficiency of products and equipment, including outdoor lighting through initiatives at both Union and national level. Such initiatives can make an important contribution to meeting the Union's commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol.

The European Climate Change Programme (ECCP) was set up in co-operation with stakeholders and Member States experts to identify concrete policy measures that can contribute to meeting our climate change objectives. The supply and use of energy is of course to the fore in the ECCP, including more efficient use of lighting. In this respect the recent proposal for a Directive on the energy performance of buildings(4) that was supported by the ECCP is of particular importance since one of its objectives is to promote energy efficiency in buildings, including lighting.

There are also on-going initiatives such as the Green Light Programme, launched on 7 February 2000 by the Commission's Directorate General Energy and Transport. This is a voluntary pollution prevention initiative encouraging non-residential electricity consumers to commit towards the Commission as regards installing energy-efficient lighting technologies in their facilities. Its objectives are to reduce the energy consumption from indoor and outdoor lighting throughout Europe, thus reducing polluting emissions and limiting the global warming and to improve the quality of visual conditions while saving money.

(1) OJ C 217, 26.7.1996.

(2) OJ C 96, 8.4.1999.

(3) OJ C 261 E, 18.9.2001.

(4) OJ C 213 E, 31.7.2001.