Our Mid-Term Review: A Look at Our Progress & What’s Ahead

• Construction of lighthouse demonstrators: Six demonstrator sites have adapted new light-reduction solutions, each demonstrator with a different planning approach either driven in co-design with local administrations or through a bottom-up approach involving the local community
• Monitoring framework: Common monitoring protocols have been created for ecological effects on biodiversity, light measurements and stakeholder needs 
• First data collection phase: Pre-measurements on biodiversity, light pollution and stakeholder needs were taken at all 9 demonstrator sites (conditions before the light modifications)
• Participation & awareness efforts: Expertise has been developed in bottom-up approaches and many efforts through workshops and events were taken to raise awareness about light pollution 

At the regional level, we started to develop strategies to further integrate light pollution mitigation into policies and planning processes. These serve as a foundation for our next step: creating a transnational strategy that builds on these regional efforts and enables broader cooperation across borders.

One of the most important takeaways from the first two years is the necessity of continuous exchange between different perspectives. Light pollution mitigation is not a one-sided issue—it involves environmental concerns, urban planning, public safety and social acceptance. Bringing together decision-makers, planners, environmental experts and local communities has been crucial in identifying both opportunities and challenges in implementing sustainable lighting solutions.

In Hamburg, for example, innovative XR planning tools, including 3D visualisation of lighting, are instrumental in making the lighting planning process more accessible and transparent. Night walks and workshops have provided valuable insights, allowing citizens to voice their concerns and preferences while giving us a clearer understanding of the impacts of public lighting choices.

However, dialogue alone is not enough. The project has highlighted the need to move from discussion to concrete implementation. While in some regions, such as in Brest, dark sky principles are already integrated into their national policies, others still face barriers related to regulatory frameworks, technical limitations or budget constraints. Understanding these barriers and working together to find solutions has proven to be essential.

One key challenge is the different scope of action available to various stakeholders. For instance, city planners may be restricted by existing legal frameworks, while local authorities might face budgetary limitations. By facilitating dialogue, we have already supported stakeholders on the way to finding common ground, recognizing what is feasible within their respective roles and thinking about possibilities to overcome obstacles in the future.

As we move forward, we are focusing on several upcoming actions:

• Analysis of data: Comparing results and different methods used between our sites and to refine them for replication at transnational level.
• Bringing findings to a transnational level to support municipalities and ports more effectively in implementing new lighting solutions through shared knowledge and coordinated strategies.
• Expanding policy integration: Strengthening the exchange between regions to facilitate the inclusion of light pollution mitigation in regional and national policies.

The next phase of the project will focus on scaling up our efforts. The regional strategies that are being finalised now will serve as a basis for a transnational strategy, enabling municipalities and ports across different countries to implement effective lighting solutions more easily.

Additionally, continued engagement with stakeholders will be crucial. Regular dialogue formats, such as workshops and discussions, will help maintain momentum and ensure that knowledge gained in one region can be shared and adapted elsewhere. Evaluating and promoting our lighthouse examples—successful implementations that demonstrate the benefits of dark sky-friendly lighting—will lay the foundation for inspiring wider adoption.