Quebec Communities Reduce Lights to Protect Night Skies and Wildlife

Communities in Quebec and France reduced or adjusted nighttime lighting during Jour de la Nuit events to limit light pollution, protect nocturnal biodiversity and improve access to starry skies. The initiative included public awareness activities, lighting changes and astronomy observations.

Franceinfo reported that the 18th edition of Jour de la Nuit included hundreds of events on October 10, with municipalities organizing lighting reductions and activities focused on the night environment. A Nature study cited by Franceinfo found global light pollution increased 16% between 2014 and 2022.

According to Franceinfo, 85% of mainland France is exposed to high levels of light pollution, while the same study found France reduced light pollution by 33% during the eight-year period examined.

Nancy Dion, consumption and education coordinator at Parc national d’Aiguebelle, explained the goal of the event in Quebec.

"Basically, we do not want people to stop using lights. We only want people to use lighting better," said Nancy Dion, consumption and education coordinator at Parc national d’Aiguebelle.

The Quebec event included information activities at Parc national d’Aiguebelle in Rouyn-Noranda about the effects of artificial lighting on the night environment.

Mélina Dubois, manager of the Mont-Mégantic International Dark Sky Reserve, described how reducing unnecessary lighting can help preserve the night environment.

"By turning off the light or reducing poor lighting, we can reduce light pollution and have access to the starry sky. So, the light will veil the starry sky, on one hand, but it also has other impacts, impacts on nocturnal wildlife, for example, and even flora. There are also impacts on energy economics, health, quality of life, etc.," said Mélina Dubois, manager of the Mont-Mégantic International Dark Sky Reserve.

Dubois also pointed to effects on species that depend on darkness, including insects, birds and other nocturnal animals.

"So, if I take some fairly simple examples, migratory birds will be affected by the light from the sky, there will be amphibians, fish and large mammals. All animals that mainly live at night will be affected by poor lighting," said Mélina Dubois, manager of the Mont-Mégantic International Dark Sky Reserve.

She added that lighting choices such as warmer colors and lower intensity can reduce impacts from artificial light.

"If you have the chance to have even less light for light pollution, it is even more worthwhile. Because we are in a period close to the new moon. Because the full moon, if it were there, also creates light pollution for those who want to observe objects like nebulae and galaxies," said Richard Martin, president of the Association des astronomes amateurs de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue.

Martin said broad participation is needed for lighting reductions to significantly improve sky visibility.

"Just turning off 10% would not make such a big difference," said Richard Martin, president of the Association des astronomes amateurs de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue.

The astronomy group president explained that darker skies are necessary for observing distant celestial objects.

"To see galaxies, nebulae or distant stars, you need a sky that is as dark as possible, it is really essential. So, a bright sky background reduces contrast, which will make objects less visible or completely invisible," said Richard Martin, president of the Association des astronomes amateurs de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue.

In La Roche-Bernard, Morbihan, officials planned to switch off public and commercial lighting from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. while keeping some areas illuminated for safety. Astronomer Olivier Moreau highlighted the immediate effect of reducing artificial light.

"Light pollution is a pollution that disappears immediately when the lights are turned off," said Olivier Moreau, astronomer.