-
MP drops plan to allow bakeries to open seven days a week
Proposal abandoned after opposition from the baking industry
-
Dog owners warned after outbreak of deadly virus in Avignon
Owners told to keep unvaccinated pets at home
-
Rescuers in French Pyrenees warn against reckless hiking
Concerns raised after two 19-year-olds rescued following 20-hour ordeal
Cities warned to tone down excessive lighting
Not enough has been done to combat the issue of energy wasted by public lighting, shop fronts and offices, says The National Association for Nocturnal and Environmental Protection (ANPCEN)
Legislation was put in place in 2013 in an attempt to curb unnecessary lighting in cities, under which shop fronts and windows were to put their lights out by 1am and offices one hour after the close of business.
In Bordeaux alone, 70% of sites have not been conforming to the legislation, while Grenoble, Limoges, Marseille and Saint-Etienne are also failing to step up. Lille, Nantes, Strasbourg and Toulouse are doing better, with Paris somewhere in the middle.
Public light emissions doubled in the last 25 years. Environments have told communes that they could save between 25% and 75% of their energy budgets by economising.
The association is appealing to environment minister Nicolas Hulot to put pressure on government representatives and corporations to enforce the legislation.
The concern is not purely environmental. Excessive night time lighting disturbs the biological processes of humans and animals alike.
