Lost in the Unending Glow

Bangkok faces extreme light pollution, with inner areas reaching level 9 on the Bortle Scale, which disrupts human circadian rhythms and nocturnal wildlife behaviors. Despite the Thailand Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act (1992) recognizing light as a pollutant, there are no specific provisions to regulate excessive artificial lighting. The author advocates for smart lighting solutions, public awareness, and the adoption of light curfews similar to those in Paris and Hong Kong to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect public health.

• Bangkok exhibits extreme levels of light pollution, with inner city areas reaching a level 9 on the Bortle Scale and outer regions ranging between levels 7 and 8.
• Artificial light at night suppresses melatonin and disrupts circadian rhythms, which is linked to a range of health issues including sleep disturbances, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, and hormone-related cancers.
• Light pollution disrupts the navigation, feeding, and reproduction of nocturnal animals such as insects, bats, and migratory birds, potentially threatening the biodiversity of Bangkok's Chao Phraya River.
• Thailand's current legal framework is insufficient for managing light pollution; while the 1992 National Environmental Quality Act recognizes light as a pollutant, it lacks specific regulatory provisions, and the Public Health Act fails to classify Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) as a statutory nuisance.
• Excessive artificial lighting contributes to higher energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn hinders efforts to adapt to climate change.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2025). Lost in the Unending Glow. https://www.sei.org/perspectives/lost-in-the-unending-glow/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Lost in the Unending Glow. 2025. https://www.sei.org/perspectives/lost-in-the-unending-glow/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Lost in the Unending Glow |date=6 February 2025 |url=https://www.sei.org/perspectives/lost-in-the-unending-glow/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2025lost, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Lost in the Unending Glow}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2025}, month = feb, url = {https://www.sei.org/perspectives/lost-in-the-unending-glow/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }