increasingly intense Christmas lighting It causes an increase in light pollution, which is a serious problem in many cities. to observe animal species and the starry sky. Extreme cases like the one in Vigo City Council could be imitated in other parts of Spain and the resulting damage could occur. There is also a change in the sleep and rest cycle of human beings.According to science, it can accelerate the emergence of diseases. Therefore, both the Ministry of Ecological Transition and conservation organizations have called for this spiral to be softened.
Organizations such as SEO/BirdLife and Ecologistas en Acción filed complaints with Spanish municipal councils Abandoning the “Christmas lighting race”Since the Christmas light displays, they have condemned the increase in energy consumption, implying that it affects biodiversity.
To this we must add the occupation of public space and light pollution, the impact of which is “well documented”. especially in insects and some bird groups”, these organizations state in separate statements. We must remember that insects are rapidly disappearing from the planet and this threatens to have cascading effects on the rest of the animal world.
Examples of installations in botanical gardens or public parks include the Palmetum in Tenerife, the Torre Girona gardens in Barcelona, the Enrique Tierno Galván park in Madrid, as well as tree-lined streets and “avenues full of lights”. Something that “contributes to the usual increase in illumination” on these dates, which shows a “lack of sensitivity” due to a “negative impact” for different wild species living in cities such as Vigo or Cantabria.
Most animals are nocturnal.
In this sense, Alicia Pelegrina, doctor of Environmental Sciences at the University of Granada, recalls: “30 percent of vertebrates and 60 percent of invertebrates are nocturnal.” Noise and light pollution affect sleep, hormonal regulation and birds’ ability to navigate.
“Plant life is not indifferent either.” Because artificial light causes changes in the food webs, flowering and growth of plants.
“30 percent of vertebrates and 60 percent of invertebrates are nocturnal.”
Ecologists in Action accuses “leaders of sectors such as the automotive industry or fossil fuels, large multinational corporations” of contributing to such demonstrations as “greenwashing” campaigns in the climate emergency.
Vigo’s extreme case
SEO/BirdLife also complains about the promotion of “an unsustainable city lighting model” and cites this example: Decoration of a total of 2,308 trees in Vigo this yearthat it is “quite likely” that some of these will serve as winter roosts for sparrows, wagtails and other birds, and that at present “it would be difficult to find an alternative place to rest”.
Environmental organizations warn about the effects of artificially varying light levels on rest, communication, reproduction, behavior, predation and competition of different species; A range of direct effects on the functioning of ecosystems.
Moreover, “Human beings are no exception to this problem.”They insist that changing your biological clock is associated with problems such as difficulty falling asleep, changing your eating habits and affecting your digestion, changing the secretion of certain hormones, and even changing the control of body temperature.
Minister calls for ‘containment’ of lighting
Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenges Teresa Ribera was understanding about the spending on Christmas lighting, although she pleaded for restraint and acknowledged the spending on Christmas lighting. In this sense, it is necessary to “think together with the mayors”.
“We all have the need and desire to enjoy life and celebrate, but we must also ensure that this celebration and fun is as tight as possible.” This is how Ribera expressed himself in an interview on Carne Cruda, when asked about spending on Christmas lighting in cities such as Vigo, where socialist Abel Caballero is president and where more than 11 million LED lights were installed this year. .
“It is true that we have greatly increased the efficiency of our bulbs, but We must be careful how much we devote and to what purpose.“Argued Ribera, recalling that last year an energy security plan was approved to reduce light consumption in public spaces.
“Then the debate about the decorative use of light came up and received a lot of pushback in historic buildings and spaces, and I believe it is a debate that requires public understanding.”
According to him, “Beyond extraordinary and special situations that require resolution by decree law at a specific moment”, people “must understand that there are better and worse ways to use resources” and perhaps there may be some flexibility on the ornamental part at a certain time, but that needs to be adjusted.”
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Contact address of the environmental department:krisclimatica@prensaiberica.es
Source: Informacion
James Sean is a writer for “Social Bites”. He covers a wide range of topics, bringing the latest news and developments to his readers. With a keen sense of what’s important and a passion for writing, James delivers unique and insightful articles that keep his readers informed and engaged.