Earth Night 2022 – What’s behind it

On Friday, 23 September 2022, the third Earth Night will take place. For one whole night, all artificial outdoor light will be switched off or reduced. The aim is to make people around the world aware of light pollution

Earth Night – These are the goals

Every year on the Friday in September, which is maximally close to the new moon night, the event takes place. Earth Night had its premiere on 17 September 2020. It was brought to life by the initiative “Godfathers of the Night” in Germany.

• The initiative’s main aim is to draw attention to light pollution, which has an impact on people, animals and the environment.
• Light consumption causes the sky to brighten and the night to disappear. Especially in big cities, the starry sky is no longer as brilliant as it once was.
• The “Godfathers of the Night” also want to draw attention to the waste of light and the resulting consumption of resources and energy and the emission of CO₂.
• It is not the aim of the initiative to abolish light completely. People should gain an awareness of light as a resource and become aware of the consequences of light pollution.

How to be part of Earth Night

Everyone can do their part for Earth Night and enjoy an extra dark night.

• Draw the curtains to prevent artificial light from getting outside.
• If you cannot or do not want to completely do without light in front of the house or in the garden, install lamps with motion detectors or use weaker lamps.
• Direct the light to the ground by tilting your lamp or using shielded lamps. Using LED reflector lamps also make for a darker night.
• Also pay attention to the light colour of your lamps. Yellowish light is darker and causes less insect mortality than bluish light.

Street lighting on Earth Night

Street lighting at night provides safety for people and is important for traffic. But here, too, light consumption can be reduced.

• There is no general obligation for comprehensive lighting of streets. Lighting of streets, paths and squares could therefore be switched off.
• Hazard precautions are only mandatory at dangerous places, such as construction sites or known accident sites. These places should continue to be illuminated.
• In recent years, some communities and cities have proven that turning off street lights is possible.
• The initiative points out that dimmed lights can provide more safety in road traffic. The dimmed light does not dazzle road users and less harsh contrasts make it easier to see dark areas and obstacles.