There are many practical ways in which we — individuals, groups and Government — can make a difference to our planet, both locally and nationally. As the General Election looms, we present 10 areas where improvement is badly needed. 1) Turn on the night Artificial night light obscures the celestial magic of natural wonders, such as the Aurora Borealis, drives biodiversity loss and negatively affects our circadian rhythms and physical and mental health.
We endorse Dark Sky International’s recommendation to reduce average illumination levels by switching to dimmers, motion sensors and timers; using LED lighting and warm white bulbs for reduced illuminance; and directing the angle of essential light downwards. The worst pollution comes from commercial buildings and offices, where whole floors are left lit up at night; these establishments should be required to turn off unnecessary indoor lighting. 2) Give British food more shelf space Problems with food packaging extend far beyond the excessive amount of plastic used.
Labels can also be misleading, because the presence of a Union Flag doesn’t automatically mean that the item was grown in the UK; it can mean merely that it was processed here with ingredients from abroad. As well as setting aside more space for British produce on supermarket shelves, there should be an EPC-style rating that takes into account criteria such as how the product was reared or grown, where it came from and how it has been transported and packag.
