It’s lights out in cities
across Europe. The continent, especially its western half, is unable to cope
with rising energy costs and has decided the best way to counter the problem
right now is to switch off its streetlights. German capital Berlin has turned
off the spotlights that illuminate 200 historic buildings and monuments and Spain
has ordered shops to switch off their lights at night. Italy and Australia too
have cut down on streetlight use. The move is meant to save energy, but has not
come without opposition, especially with regard to safety.

There are some communes in
France that have decided to shut off streetlights for three-and-half hours
every night. Local authorities expect the move to reduce energy costs by a
quarter. Additionally, activist groups and scientists also see the turning off
of streetlights as a green measure cutting down on pollution.

Turning off the lights is
the “easiest” measure to take as it “costs almost nothing and…immediately pays
off in euros, in kilowatt hours saved, and in reduction of light pollution,” Anne-Marie
Ducroux, a French association fighting light pollution said. Further, there are
those who see turning off the streetlights at night will help “respect the
rhythm of day and night” and tamp down on light pollution. This will help
species regenerate, said Carol Faidherbe, the first deputy mayor of Taverny.

Meanwhile, many see turning
off the lights at night as a safety issue. A perceived lack of safety may have
a major impact on movement in the streets, especially of women. Being able to
see one’s surroundings is key to feeling safe, said Ines Sanchez de Madariaga,
UNESCO chair in science, technology and innovation. “When women perceive a risk
of sexual assault, a risk of insecurity, they stop going places.”

However, there are also
studies to prove safety has no direct correlation with streetlights. A city in northern
France’s Mouy recorded a slight decline in robberies and damages after it switched
off streetlighting in 2015.

“Many fear that safety
decreases, but there are multiple studies that show that safety does not
decrease with less light or that more light does not contribute to more safety,”
said biologist Reinhard Klenke, who works with the Hemholtz Centre for
Environmental Research in Germany.