Resolution 13.5 Light Pollution Guidelines for Wildlife and its Annex, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, COP13
Date of Adoption: February 2020
UN Programme: UNEP
Summary: Confirms that light pollution refers to artificial light that alters the natural patterns of light and dark in ecosystems; Encourages Parties, in instances where artificial light is impacting migratory species, to find creative solutions that meet both human requirements and wildlife conservation; Urges Parties to use the Guidelines to adopt appropriate measures and processes designed to assess if a lighting project is likely to negatively affect wildlife and identify management tools to minimize and mitigate that impact; Recommends that Parties encourage and support scientific research on the impacts of artificial light on wildlife.
Non-binding recommendations adopted with the CMS framework
Additional Information: Link to Annex (guidelines consist of specific measures to reduce LP impacts on migratory species protected under the CMS)
Notes:
Topics: environmental impacts; migratory species; biodiversity; Bonn convention; CMS; environmental law
Resolution 8.6: Bats and Light Pollution, Guidelines for consideration of bats in lighting projects (UNEP/EUROBATS)
Date of Adoption: 2018
Organization: UNEP
Summary: Acknowledged the value of natural light levels for ecological processes; Recommended to take into account that artificial light in general has a negative impact on bats and should be avoided wherever and whenever possible; work to ensure that planning of artificial lighting projects is undertaken in compliance with national legislation regarding bat protection and conservation by implementing appropriate avoidance, mitigation and compensation for habitat losses; ensure that the impacts of artificial light on bats are included in impact assessment procedures.
Non-binding recommendations to protect the European bats adopted by EUROBATS
Additional Information: Follow-up Research paper
Topics: environmental impacts; bats; biodiversity; EUROBATS; environmental law
UNEP/CMS/COP14/Doc.30.4.4 Light Pollution Guidelines for Wildlife
Date of Adoption: 10 July 2023
UN Programme: UNEP
Summary: Expended the Guidelines adopted during the COP13 in February 2020
Non-binding recommendations adopted with the CMS framework (expanded) to be reviews at COP14 Samarkand, Uzbekistan, 12 – 17 February 2024 Agenda Item 30.4
Additional Information: Annex 3 (Guidelines themselves)
Topics: environmental impacts; migratory species; biodiversity; international level; Bonn convention; CMS; environmental law
A/AC.105/1307. United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). Report of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee on its sixty-first session, held in Vienna from 29 January to 9 February 2024
Date of Adoption: 12 April 2024
UN Programme: COPUOS
Summary: The Working Group considered the list of substantive items contained in the provisional agenda for the sixty-first session of the Subcommittee (A/AC.105/C.1/L.412) and recommended that the same substantive items be considered at the sixty-second session of the Subcommittee, to be held in 2025, with the addition of an item entitled “Dark and quiet skies, astronomy and large constellations: addressing emerging issues and challenges”
Topics: D&QS; Space Activities; Astronomy
Report of the Legal Subcommittee on its sixty-second session, held in Vienna from 20 to 31 March 2023
Date of Adoption: 2 June 2023
UN Programme: COPUOS
Summary: First discussions and exchange of opinions concerning the need to protect dark and quiet skies from interference from satellites.
Topics: D&QS; Space Activities; Astronomy
CBD/COP/DEC/15/4 Decision adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP14, CBD) - Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
Date of Adoption: 19 December 2022
UN Programme: UNEP
Summary: TARGET 7 Reduce pollution risks and the negative impact of pollution from all sources by 2030, to levels that are not harmful to biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, considering cumulative effects, including: (a) by reducing excess nutrients lost to the environment by at least half, including through more efficient nutrient cycling and use; (b) by reducing the overall risk from pesticides and highly hazardous chemicals by at least half, including through integrated pest management, based on science, taking into account food security and livelihoods; and (c) by preventing, reducing, and working towards eliminating plastic pollution.
Additional Information: Information on Target 7 (includes light and noise pollution)
Topics: Environmental Protection; Pollution