Action required on light pollution

The Conseil d’Etat, France’s highest administrative jurisdiction, has condemned the government for its inaction in the fight against light pollution, demanding that Nicolas Hulot, Minister for Ecological and Solidarity Transition, issues new measures ‘within a period of nine months’.

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2010’s Grenelle II law set out measures against light pollution, but orders specifying their implementation have never been made public, which prompted environmental associations to refer the matter to the Conseil d’Etat.

“It is now urgent to move from intention to action so that these objectives are finally met,” said a spokesman.

Night light pollution, or photopollution, disrupts the biological clock, increasing the risk of cancer, diabetes and depression as well as disrupting ecosystems.