Reducing light pollution in Malta

Satellite photos indicate the extent to which light pollution is prevalent in the Maltese islands.

The project announced in the Budget last month to install intelligent street lighting initially in Gozo and subsequently in Malta will be partially address this issue.

The intelligent street lighting will adjust or even switch off street lighting in those streets which are not in use during those same hours.

In Malta and Gozo we have over 60,000 street lights. Dimming or switching off these lights will lead to significant savings, decrease energy consumption, decrease power station emissions as well as decrease substantially light pollution.

Outside the Development Zones it will also lead to additional benefits of reducing impacts on wildlife.

This is a positive step and must be duly acknowledged.