atmospheric pollution

This law defines light pollution as visible radiation from artificial light sources, which can annoy people or animals and cause them harm or disrupt some of their activities. How light sources are located is crucial for the intensity of light pollution. The Act allows a municipality (Section 50 (3)(c)) to issue a generally binding decree adopting measures to reduce light pollution. These measures should be aimed at regulating the projection of neon signs and impacts on dark skies.

The object of this Law is the regulation of exterior and interior lighting installations and devices, with regard to the light pollution they may produce. The purposes of this Law are: a) Maintain the natural conditions of the night hours as much as possible, for the benefit of fauna, flora and ecosystems, in general; b) Promote the energy efficiency of exterior and interior lighting through energy savings, without reducing security; c) Avoid light intrusion into the domestic environment and, in any case, minimize its inconvenience and damage; d) Prevent and correct the effects of light pollution on the vision of the sky.

The purpose of this Regulation is to establish the conditions and tolerable limits of all factors that appear to degrade the astronomical quality of the sky over the areas surrounding the observatories.

Outdoor lighting, the installation and operation of stations and the establishment of industries, activities or services that produce atmospheric pollution, as well as other factors that prove degrading to the atmospheric quality of the observatories on the island of La Palma will be subject to the limitations established in this Law. Law 31/1988, of October 31, establishes a set of measures aimed at guaranteeing the notable quality of the observatories of the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands, following the recommendations of the International Astronomical Union. These measures determine certain limitations regarding outdoor lighting, the installation and operation of radio stations and the establishment of industries, activities that potentially pollute the atmosphere.

The purpose of this regulation is to establish the technical conditions for design, execution, and maintenance that outdoor lighting installations must meet, in order to: improve energy efficiency and savings, as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions; limit nighttime light glare or light pollution and reduce intrusive or disturbing light.