Health & Science
Return to the Dark Side
by Rebecca Greatrex
Viewing a night sky unspoilt by light pollution could be a lot easier if the Mackenzie Basin becomes the first World Heritage Dark Sky Park.
New Zealand will set an environmental world precedent if it can persuade UNESCO to recognise a new type of World Heritage Site – a Dark Sky Park in the Mackenzie Basin from which people will be able to see the natural beauty and brilliance of a star-filled night sky unspoilt by light pollution.
“It really is a wonderful night sky here and there are very few places left in the world now where you can get that view,” says Professor Phil Butler, head of physics and astronomy at the University of Canterbury and a strong supporter of the proposal.
The relentless increase in urbanisation across the industrialised world has obscured the night sky with a blanket of light pollution, but Dark Sky Park supporters are fighting back. A high-profile campaign – saddled with the grandiose title of the “International Conference in Defence of the Quality of the Night Sky and Right to Observe the Stars” – just launched in La Palma in the Canary Islands, is championing the importance of unpolluted skies to humanity.
Satellite images of the dark side of our planet show the massive amount of energy that pours into space every night as light pollution. Given the worldwide concern over climate change, carbon emissions and energy conservation, the conference is well-timed if it can raise global awareness of the triple evil of inefficient lighting, wasted energy and light pollution.
Everyone is familiar with “urban sky glow”, the orange haze that hangs over urban environments at night. There’s also the “in-your-face” glare from excessively bright and/or badly positioned lights, while “light trespass” is caused when badly directed or unshielded light spills in unwanted directions – such as into the sky or through your bedroom window. Light pollution can be significantly reduced, however, by using full cut-off lights that direct light onto the target area and prevent it escaping upwards and sideways. Usually, this enables operators to use smaller wattage bulbs or fewer lights overall, reducing energy use.
Figures from the Ministry of Economic Development show that consumption of electricity is steadily increasing across all sectors (industrial, residential and commercial) and, as a result, the amount of electricity generated has roughly doubled over the past 30 years to about 41,500 Gwh in 2005; but smart operators such as the Ports of Auckland have managed to simultaneously reduce energy consumption and light pollution through better lighting practice, resulting in gains for the environment as well as their pockets. The Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand, as a signatory to the New Zealand Urban Design Protocol, aims to raise awareness of this happy coincidence for future urban designs.
Tekapo-based Graeme Murray – another leading supporter of the proposed Dark Sky Park – attended the La Palma conference to explain what the park’s supporters are hoping to achieve.
Murray, who also chairs the Mackenzie Tourism and Development Board and is a director of local eco-tourism company Earth & Sky, said before he left that he wanted to “catch up on international thinking and to carry a wee candle for what’s going on in New Zealand and our humble efforts down in this corner of the world to protect the dark sky”.
The Mackenzie District Council already has strict regulations about outdoor lighting in the area to protect the University of Canterbury’s world-class astronomical observatory at Mt John, just outside Tekapo. And, to reduce light pollution, Land Transport New Zealand has installed low-pressure sodium street lighting along State Highway 8 where it passes through the township. These precautions ensure that views of the stars can be superb on clear nights and New Zealand’s southerly latitude also enables star-gazers to see objects not visible from the northern hemisphere, such as the famous Southern Cross.
“We’re in a prime position here at Tekapo,” confirms Jason Beck, the council’s chief financial officer. “Anything that would encourage people to stay in the district would be of immense benefit to local businesses as a whole.”
However, he is cautious about any further restrictions due to controls on light pollution that a Dark Sky Park might bring. “If it could stop any further development of the area, this would certainly concern me, although I’ve been assured that this wouldn’t be the case.”
Even if the council is supportive, getting an area designated as a World Heritage Site takes considerable time. The Department of Conservation represents New Zealand within the World Heritage Convention and is responsible for preparing the nominations of potential World Heritage sites. The final list of sites will be formally launched at the 31st UNESCO World Heritage Committee conference in Christchurch between June 23 and July 2. Even so, UNESCO procedures mean that no decisions will be made until next year.
“There’s enormous interest around the world in coming to this conference,” says Margaret Austin, former Chancellor of Lincoln University and recently retired chair of the National Committee for UNESCO in New Zealand. She is another strong advocate for the Dark Sky Park and has already spoken to Francesco Bandarin, the director of the World Heritage Centre, about the idea. “I’m hoping that Mr Bandarin will be able to visit the Tekapo area at the end of the conference,” she says.
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