| answer text |
<p>1. Public Health England carried out a study in 2016 for the Chartered Institution
of Building Services Engineers and the Society of Light and Lighting, which included
an assessment of light-emitting diode (LED) streetlights on health. The study concluded
that some LED streetlight luminaires emitted more blue light than was necessary, but
that there was no evidence of direct adverse health effects on people.</p><p> </p><p>2.
Defra has published or contributed to a range of assessments of the impact of artificial
light on insects and wider biodiversity, as well as global and national assessments
of the drivers of biodiversity loss more generally.</p><p> </p><p>Following publication
of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution’s report, ‘Artificial light in
the environment’ in 2009, Defra has supported assessments of impacts of artificial
light on insects and on other organisms such as bats. These are published on our science
website. Defra has also funded or co-funded national and international assessments
of drivers of change on insects and wider biodiversity such as the global IPBES Assessment
Report on Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production, which notes effects of light
on nocturnal insects may be growing and identifies the need for further study.</p><p>
</p><p>There have been a number of externally funded studies which have highlighted
potential impacts of artificial light pollution on insects, which Defra keeps under
review, for example, with our academic partners on the National Pollinator Strategy
for England.</p><p> </p><p>3. Government officials have met with relevant stakeholders
including the Commission for Dark Skies but have not made an assessment of the impact
of light pollution on astronomy.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has not made an assessment
specifically of the cost of wasted energy from light pollution. In respect of the
Strategic Road network a full appraisal is carried out before any lighting project
is commissioned, including in-depth analysis of the environmental impact and economic
benefits of the scheme. All lighting on the network is designed according to current
British and European standards which emphasise the importance of limiting light pollution,
and older forms of lantern are in the process of being replaced with environmentally
sensitive lighting when they become due for renewal.</p>
|
|
