Strategic Transnational Approach to Reduce Light pollution in Central Europe

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Central Europe

Date of latest update: 2025-03-13

Description

Description (EN):

DARKERSKY4CE - Strategic Transnational Approach to Reduce Light pollution in Central Europe project aims to reduce light pollution in central Europe by changing how it is perceived by policy makers, tourism facilities tourists, and locals. The project objective is to raise awareness on the problem and generate a positive, solution-oriented, attitude to preserve ecosystems and biodiversity, highlighting that dark skies can be a competitive asset for sustainable development in non-urbanised areas. This can be achieved by providing evidence that light pollution is detrimental to ecosystems and biodiversity. The project means to overcome the challenge of scarce awareness on the topic of light pollution and the importance of dark skies by collecting and making accessible scientific data on the risk and how it affects ecosystems. This analysis will be the starting point to raise awareness, involve policy makers and co-building a shared strategy based on an innovative “ecosystem services approach”, considering light (or the loss of it) in its environmental and recreational dimensions. The project will develop Pilot Demo Sites to concretise this strategy. A transnational network to share knowledge and elaborate policy recommendations will be established. Project activities will be carried on upon its closure. This sustainability will be further granted through the activation of a dialogue among conflicting stakeholders so that it will be clear the added value, from a touristic point of view. The result of the project will be twofold: local authorities will be able to see dark skies as an asset to protect biodiversity, while also being able to determine the economic value of different sites, well suited for tourism or astronomy. This will be the first step to a roadmap aimed at creating the first “Dark Skies macro-region” in Central Europe.

Expected Achievements (EN):

WP1 aims at piloting new measurments of light pollution impacts by collecting new data and harminising existing ones. Data will be the knowledge base for a community of practice based on a dynamic monitoring system for scientific data, ecosystem services provided by dark skies and indicators to measure the change in its perception by relevant stakeholders. WP2 aims at developing a transnational strategy to improve sustainable local development in a framework of reduced light pollution and using Astro-tourism as a driver for non-urban areas involving stakeholders in a strategic foresight participatory approach. WP3 aims at implementing 4 Pilot Action in 5 pilot demo sites to reduce light pollution in non-urban areas, transforming the perception of dark skies from “unsafe” or “non relevant” to a competitive asset for sustainable tourism and biodiversity protection, concretely demonstrating how artificial light can be used in a sustainable way. Solutions provided by these Pilot Action will focus on technologies to reduce light pollution and how to measure its impacts in diverse landscapes and climatic conditions, and also on the promotion of astrotourism solving conflicts among stakeholders.

Project outputs: DARKERSKY4CE Sentinel Alliance(EN)
Pilot action on the harmonised light pollution measurements and data gathering
(EN)
Dark skies in peripheral area: solutions to convey their value(EN)
Transnational Strategy: the future of dark skies in Central Europe(EN)
Dark Skies Pilot Actions and Pilot Demo Sites(EN)
Solutions and policy recommendation for a dark sky macro region(EN)
Website: https://www.interreg-central.eu/projects/darkersky4ce/

Thematic information

Institutional cooperation and cooperation networks Waste and pollution Climate change and biodiversity

Priority: (VI-B_CE_2) Cooperating for a greener central Europe

Priority specific objective: RSO2.7. Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 079 Nature and biodiversity protection, natural heritage and resources, green and blue infrastructure

Partners (7)

Lead Partner: Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999868920

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IT06895721006

Department: Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino - Turin Astrophysical Observatory

Address: Viale del Parco Mellini , 00136 Roma, Italy

Department address: Via Osservatorio , 10025 Pino Torinese (TO), Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.inaf.it/it

Total budget: EUR 322 798.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 258 238.40

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 64 559.60

RRA SEVERNE PRIMORSKE d.o.o. Nova Gorica

Name: RRA SEVERNE PRIMORSKE d.o.o. Nova Gorica

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 950215881

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SI95877835

Address: Kromberk Cesta 25. Junija , 5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: https://www.rra-sp.si/

Total budget: EUR 218 670.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 174 936.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 43 734.00

Gruppo di Azione Locale Escartons e Valli Valdesi

Name: Gruppo di Azione Locale Escartons e Valli Valdesi

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IT08435750016

Address: Corso Jacopo Lombardini, 10066 Torre Pellice, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Other

Website: http://www.evv.it

Total budget: EUR 253 300.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 202 640.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 50 660.00

FH Kärnten gGmbH

Name: FH Kärnten gGmbH

Partner’s ID if not PIC: ATU77483224

Address: Europastraße , 9524 Villach, Austria

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website (not verified): http://www.cuas.at

Total budget: EUR 275 920.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 220 736.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 55 184.00

Aufbauwerk Region Leipzig GmbH

Name: Aufbauwerk Region Leipzig GmbH

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 997255352

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE162756989

Address: Otto-Schill-Strasse, 04109 Leipzig, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: https://aufbauwerk-leipzig.com/

Total budget: EUR 252 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 201 600.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 50 400.00

DDRIÜ Dél-Dunántúli Regionális Innovációs Ügynökség Nonprofit Kft.

Name: DDRIÜ Dél-Dunántúli Regionális Innovációs Ügynökség Nonprofit Kft.

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 954379994

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HU14194799

Address: Mária u, 7621 Pécs, Hungary

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: https://ddriu.hu/en/home/

Total budget: EUR 235 115.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 188 092.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 47 023.00

Województwo Kujawsko-Pomorskie

Name: Województwo Kujawsko-Pomorskie

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 952991342

Partner’s ID if not PIC: PL9561969536

Address: Plac Teatralny , 87-100 Torun, Poland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: https://www.kujawsko-pomorskie.pl

Total budget: EUR 233 210.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 186 568.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 46 642.00

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Strategic Transnational Approach to Reduce Light pollution in Central Europe

Project acronym: DARKERSKY4CE

Project ID: CE0200765

Project start date: 2024-06-01

Project end date: 2027-01-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

STARLIGHT E+ - Erasmus + KA2 VET Strategic partnerships (EN) | The Erasmus + project, funded under 2021 call for proposal, involves 3 organisations participating also to this DARKERSKY4CE project (INAF, GALEVV, RDANG), Cooperation highlighting the interest around this thematic. The two projects are not overlapping but are complementary: DARKERSKY4CE addresses light pollution in terms of policy making, while the E+ STARLIGHT project creates the competences to promote Astro-tourism as a sustainable growth asset. (EN), NIGHT LIGHT - Interreg Europe (EN) | In the Night Light project regional authorities from The Netherlands, Hungary, Spain, Luxemburg, Denmark, Slovenia and Italy join forces to improve their regional policies for the prevention of light pollution, preservation of dark skies and the sustainable exploitation of dark sky places: DARKERSKY4CE can gain knowledge on the project regional policy measures and ideas from the introduction of new services and facilities to attract eco-tourism to these dark sky areas. (EN), KID - KEEP IT DARK - Interreg North Sea (EN) | The KID project aims to develop a sturdy light pollution monitoring network within the Wadden Sea area. DARKERSKY4CE can get in touch with the partnership to find a way to make measuring networks compatible and make a wider network (EN), Dynamic Light - Interreg Central Europe (EN) | The project demonstrates the how-to-do of a process of how a city can get an energy efficient lighting, starting from the idea, analysis, GIS Data Mining, strategy development, financial models, procurement rules, implementation and evaluation, trying to find a balance between energy efficiency, social needs and light pollution. CE STRALIGHT could use some of their findings to develop Pilot Sited on lithing systems. (EN), DARKER SKY - Interreg North Sea (EN) | Strong synergies can be built with Darker Sky, a project which aims at reducing light pollution and increasing biodiversity and ecological connectivityin the North Sea Region (France, Germany, the Netherlands & Denmark) by providing municipalities and ports with innovative measuring, monitoring and co-design methodsfor the implementation of environmentally sound and energy-efficient light reductionbenefitting biodiversity and communities. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 791 013.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 432 810.40

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 1 432 810.40. Co-financing rate, 80.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Country-based reports on light pollution
Pilot action on the harmonised light polution measurements and data gathering
Dark skies as ecosystem services: groups and calendar
Report on dark skies ecosystem services
Dark skies ecosystem services GIS map
DARKERSKY4CE Sentinel Alliance
Dynamic monitoring Tool
Dark skies in peripheral area: solutions to covey their value
Photometer Network
List of members per group
Operational guide for group work
Report "Safeguarding the Central Europe nocturnal ecosystems"
Report "Transforming dark skies into a sustainable growth asset for tourism
Report "Local participation and transnational cooperation in light pollution reduction"
Merging present and future of dark skies in CE
The present of light pollution in CE
Transnational Strategy: the future of dark skies in Central Europe
Pilot Action/Demonstration sites framework
Public lighting systems - pilot action 1 /pilot demo site 1
Astrotourism educational offer - pilot action 2/pilot demo site 2
Stakeholders dialogue -pilot action 3/pilot demo site 3
Demonstration of monitoring methods - pilot action 4/pilot demo site 4a-4b
Dark Skies Pilot Actions and Pilot Demo Sites
Setting up the PDS transnational review
Transnationally reviewing PDS
Solutions and policy recommendation for
a dark sky macro region
Exhibit concept
Exhibit Modules

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyAlpineRegion Contribution to AG6 by reducing the conflicts of interest between the elements to protect natural resources and their economic use. Project is in line with the overall mission of Action Group 6 to provide valuable contributions to an Alpine strategic framework that allows the establishment of sustainable and balanced models of resource management and production.
EUStrategyDanubeRegion Contribution to Priority Areas 3 and 6 as the project aims at preserving biodiversity while supporting a sustainable use of natural and cultural resources, via the reduction of light pollution promoting dark skies as a part of the landscape and sustainably illuminated monuments
EuropeanGreenDeal In the Zero Pollution Action Plan, a key deliverable of the European Green Deal, light pollution is named as a pollutant of emerging concern and its research shall be supported through Horizon Europe. Pollutants of emerging concern, including light pollution, shall be included in the Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook Framework and thus translated into policy recommendations.
TerritorialAgenda2030 The project contributes to TA2030 via its research of a balance between resource consumption and production (via the Ecosystem Service approach)
and between urban and non-urban areas, with the project focusing on the latter. The project thus contributes to the reduction of geographical inequalities, avoiding addressing non-urban areas as regions that are “left behind” but as places rich in opportunities
Other The Commission’s Strategic Foresight Network ensures long-term policy coordination between all Directorates-General. The Commission is building close foresight cooperation and alliances with other EU institutions, notably in the context of the European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS). It also works with international partners, and develops partnerships that draw on Member States’ public foresight capabilities through the EU-wide Foresight Network.
Other The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 highlights the importance of integrated approaches for habitat protection and to involve different sectors and stakeholders such as environmental and spatial planning authorities, water facilities, industry and tourism. the project adopts this approach linked to nocturnal habitats and Astro tourism
Other Light pollution was listed as one of the drivers of pollinator decline to be included in the revised EU Pollinators Initiative. The aim of the iniiative is to reverse the decline in wild pollinators by 2030, by improving knowledge of pollinator decline, its causes and consequences, improving pollinator conservation and mobilising society, promoting strategic planning and cooperation at all levels
Other Slovenia has a Decree on light pollution limit values (2007), that should be further updated in 2023. There is also a strong “Dark Sky” initiative, which draws public attention to the problem of light pollution. Slovenia also have two technical Manuals addressing light pollution and is, as well, part of the Night Light Interreg Project.
Other A national Italian Act No. 751 5 (1996) provides specific guidelines and standards concerning lighting, and regional laws against light pollution have been enforced in 15 regions. Basilicata Region was a part of a Night Light Interreg Project, aiming at reducing light pollution and protecting night skies.
Other In Germany there are regional and local strategies for reducing light pollution. Firstly there is the Federal Nature Conservation Act (2021), which prohibits certain tipe of lighting in nature reserves. Then, a legal Decree explicitly addressing the protection of nature, animals and plants from light pollution is being prepared, probably for the year 2025.
Other Light pollution is not explicitly addressed by Austrian legislation, even if there is an increasing awareness of its negative effects on ecological habitats and species. Since 2021, there is one International Dark Sky Place (Dark Sky Park Sternenpark Attersee-Traunsee) in the provincial government of Upper Austria, certified by the International Dark Sky Association. Our project could help spreading awareness on the importance of dark skies and thus promote some initiative in this direction.
Other In Poland, there is no national policy on light pollution. However, there are awareness raising initiatives connected to areas of dark sky - Izerski Park Ciemnego Nieba, which is located in Poland and the Czech Republic, Biesczady Starry-Sky Park and East Carpathian Dark-Sky Tripark. The project could have a positive impact in highlighting the importance of dark skies and light pollution regulations.
Other Hungary does not have comprehensive legislation directly aimed at light pollution. The issue is addressed mostly within protected areas and dark sky parks, of which there are several in Hungary. Light pollution measurements took place in Hungarian national parks within the scope of cooperation with a consortium of researchers. The project could fill the gap by taking into the picture sub-urban and non protected areas. Hungary is part of the Night Light Interreg EU project too.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSALP

EUSALP Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSALP Degree of compliance:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSDR

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Central Europe

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-03-31

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

100 / 100 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

1 017 / 1 018 (99.9%)

Notes on the data

Programme's webpage last visited on 2025-03-17.

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Strategic Transnational Approach to Reduce Light pollution in Central Europe

Description

Thematic information

Partners (7)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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