POINTS FROM SPEECH BY THE HON. FRANCIS ZAMMIT DIMECH, MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, AT A SEMINAR ON "LIGHTING 2001", ORGANISED BY THE LIGHT POLLUTION AWARENESS GROUP

Outdoor lighting and the reduction of light pollution

The Minister for the Environment Francis Zammit Dimech said the draft Act to Protect the Environment defines the environment as "the whole of the elements and conditions, natural or man made, existing on earth and in particular:

a. the air, water and land;

b. all the layers of the atmosphere;

c. all organic and inorganic matter and all living organisms;

d. all ecosystems; and

e. the landscape."

The Minister for the Environment added that the same draft legislation, which was released as a consultation document so that the general public can submit their comments and suggestions, defines pollution as "the direct or indirect introduction by man into the environment of substances or energy that cause or are likely to cause hazard to human health, harm to living resources or to ecosystems or damage to amenities or interfere with other legitimate uses of the environment."

Dr. Francis Zammit Dimech said that with these definitions in mind he wished to make some observations about another source of pollution, light pollution. He asked how much is the general public aware of this source of pollution? Not enough. Yet light pollution exists and we must take all the necessary precautions to reduce it.

Minister Zammit Dimech said the Maltese Islands possess a rich architectural heritage and a uniquely beautiful scenic environment. At night, outdoor artificial lighting has become an integral component of this built and natural environment. It is therefore important that any illumination

'? is intelligently planned to complement the environment;

'? is subtle and avoids over lighting;

'? provides a cohesive appearance for our cities and their neighbourhoods.

The Minister for the Environment said that in order to preserve and enhance the unique qualities of the Maltese Islands' rural and urban neighbourhoods and their visual environment, it is essential to encourage good outdoor lighting practices. He added that reducing light pollution does not mean reducing essential lighting or reducing the safety of our population. It means reducing energy waste and financial costs, whilst increasing the benefits of good lighting. This creates a better night-time environment for everyone. The inefficient use of lighting is not only a waste of energy, and therefore of money, but is also a waste of the earth's non-renewable energy resources, resulting in unnecessary emissions of atmospheric pollutants.

Dr. Francis Zammit Dimech said that the recent illumination of Republic Street in our capital city is a good example of good outdoor lighting practices. As is the floodlighting of the bastions and our walled cities.

Speaking about renewable energy resources, the Minister for the Environment said that it is worth noting that not everybody is aware of the need to conserve energy. He dared say that the majority are not aware. The oil crisis of the '70s had some impact on this awareness. But even this was weakened when oil prices returned to more affordable levels. This brings the question of how much are we aware of renewable energies? What are we actually doing to replace solid fuels by other sources of energy? Dr. Francis Zammit Dimech said that in 1995 only five per cent of the market share of energy production in the European Union consisted of renewable energies. The target is for this share to go up to 7.5 per cent by the year 2010. Still this is very low .

The Minister for the Environment said that renewable energies are developing slowly. Locally we have been promoting solar energy for quite a long time. But not enough is being done. To encourage would be users of solar energy Government has, as from the 1^st of January of this year, introduced measures that make the installation of such apparata cheaper. VAT on alternative energy apparatus, such as solar heaters and solar panels was reduced from 15 per cent to five per cent. These measures are a step in the right direction.

Turning again to light pollution Dr. Francis Zammit Dimech said that he was informed that much harm has been done to local wildlife through the increase in light pollution. Pelagic birds, such as the Cory's shearwater, is just one example. Nesting sea turtles have been eradicated from our islands, through an increase in lighting in coastal areas, and other encroachments on sandy beaches. Light pollution also disrupts urban tree, shrub and plant functions that are controlled by day length, such as leaf fall and flowering.

Dr. Francis Zammit Dimech said that badly designed outdoor lighting appears to extend the commercial nature of the town centre well beyond its urban confines, across rural villages and into dark, undisturbed area of the countryside, where it is an unwelcome intrusion.

The Minister for the Environment said that fortunately the solution to these problems is not far fetched, but a win-win situation. He said that we can learn from the experience of other countries who have successfully managed to reduce light pollution through the issuing of guidelines and regulations. This way we reap financial and environmental benefits, as well as preserving the night environment and our heritage of dark skies through quality outdoor lighting.

Minister Francis Zammit Dimech congratulated the Light Pollution Awareness Group (LPAG), which is an official section in Malta of the International Dark Sky Association, for their initiative.