Light Pollution and its Multidimensional Impacts: An Emerging Environmental Challenge

Light pollution, defined as the disruption of natural darkness by artificial lighting from sources such as streetlights, buildings, vehicles, and commercial displays, has emerged as a significant yet under-recognised environmental issue. It alters natural light–dark cycles, adversely affecting human health, wildlife behaviour, energy consumption, and the visibility of the night sky. The International Convention on Migratory Species identifies it as artificial illumination that interferes with ecological processes and the biological rhythms of nocturnal species. Its major forms include skyglow, glare, light trespass, clutter, and over-illumination. The rapid expansion of Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) has transformed nocturnal environments, disrupting circadian rhythms and biological functions across species. Unlike conventional pollutants that enter through air or water, light pollution acts externally but produces significant physiological and ecological consequences. While artificial lighting has supported economic development, its excessive and unregulated use has resulted in ecological imbalance, health concerns, energy inefficiency, and environmental degradation. Global studies reveal that over 80% of the world’s population lives under light-polluted skies, with a continuous increase in artificially lit areas driven by LED expansion. In India, urbanisation has intensified this problem, particularly in metropolitan regions. From a legal perspective, light pollution implicates the right to a clean and healthy environment under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. However, despite growing evidence of its multidimensional impacts, it remains largely unregulated, highlighting the urgent need for legal recognition and effective policy intervention.