Targeted efforts are needed to protect the dark sky of Cyprus from light pollution, Commissioner for the Environment, Antonia Theodosiou, said on Friday.
She was addressing an event for the International Astronautics Day held at the Cyprus Planetarium.
She pointed out that the dark sky, is a privilege for Cyprus, and targeted efforts need to be made to protect it from light pollution.
Theodosiou explained that light pollution has adverse effects on many levels, referring, among others, to the environment, in particular, to fauna and flora, to the economy with the waste of energy and the corresponding economic costs, and to astronomy, with the complete disappearance of celestial objects from the night sky.
She also said that there are also effects on people’s health, with the appearance of various symptoms such as headaches and insomnia and a reduction in night vision, as well as on the quality of life and development.
“We can therefore join forces through innovative initiatives of this size and quality,
such as the Cyprus Planetarium, which are tools for educating citizens and a basis for shaping our policies, which need to be adapted to the scientific data available to us,” she said.
Source: Cyprus News Agency