Light Pollution in Dubai
Dear Editor:
Most of us probably know about the New Year’s light display at Burj Khalifa last month. This brings up the topic of light pollution, the excess of man-made light outdoors. It is one of the more ignored aspects of pollution, although it is unhealthy and unaesthetic. I urge citizens and the government to lower light pollution, as part of the city’s effort to make Dubai a greener place.
Due to the safety-related need of street lamps, lights on airplanes and buildings, etc., light pollution cannot be completely abolished. Yet on light pollution maps, you can see an area of unnecessary concentration in the UAE. And even after nine and ten p.m., you can see objects and shadows as clearly as if it were sometime before complete sunrise. This not only is damaging to humans as it disturbs sleep and increases the risk of certain cancers, but is also harmful to animals. Light pollution causes roosters to crow earlier due to the allusively excessive light (which can be annoying), makes the timespan of activity shorter for nocturnal animals, disorientates migrating animals, and sometimes harms insects vital to the ecosystem. In addition, stars and the Milky Way Galaxy have become almost or completely invisible except in extremely out-of-the-way areas.
Ironically, all of this can easily be stopped. It would be a worth it to install downwards-facing streetlamps, limit the use of lavish, continuous light displays, illuminated signs, and the use of lights when we don’t need them, as it would, in the long run, help save money and reduce CO2 emissions. If possible, it would do much good to install window shades in offices, malls and homes for nightly use, restrict the brightness of illuminated signs of the outsides of shops, and even attach sensors to outdoor lights.
Gulf News, and all media organizations, can help raise awareness of this important topic. With the right knowledge, every citizen of Dubai can contribute to the effort to lower light pollution and is urged to do so.
Sincerely,
Khadija J.
[Letter written for Gulf News of Dubai, UAE]