Impact of outdoor lighting on man and nature

In this advisory report, the Health Council draws attention to the ongoing loss of darkness in the evening and at night and to the consequences of this loss for landscape quality and the human environment. Modern developments such as urbanization, increased motor traffic, increased greenhouse horticulture, more flexible working hours, a growing demand for outdoor sports facilities and an increasing tendency to floodlight business premises and historic buildings mean that darkness is being eliminated in a growing number of increasingly large areas. For a variety of reasons, many people regret these changes. Annoyance in residential areas and worries about possible harm to plant and animal life also warrant additional attention to this matter in the policy of central government and other regulatory bodies.