The ILP has agreed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with DarkSky UK.
This MoU sets out a framework of co-operation to enable the ILP and DarkSky UK to work together to promote responsible outdoor lighting, reduce and eliminate the adverse effects of light pollution, plus “support the professional and public understanding of dark sky-friendly lighting practice”.
In practice that it provides equivalent member rates access to Dark Sky UK activities, conferences and events for ILP members, and vice versa.
However, as ILP Chief Executive Justin Blades outlined, the hope is it will act as a springboard to much deeper collaboration and work in this area over time.
“Strategy 2030 has identified that net zero and sustainability is, and needs to be, an increasing priority for the ILP and for our members. Dark Sky has of course existed as an organisation for a significant period of time, and is doing really good things,” he told Lighting Journal.
“To be clear, DarkSky UK approached us around this MoU, rather than the other way round, via a member who was already active and engaged with them. But it aligns very well; they have some excellent good practice, principles and guidance that we can learn and build from.
“To that end, we both felt it would be really useful to have a public statement of intent on co-operation and collaboration.
My hope, and that of the Board, is that this catalyses greater engagement, potentially with other similar organisations within this space. There may even be the potential to develop joint guidance notes – such as the work we did with GN08 and the Bat Conservation Trust – technical documentation and, who knows, even ways to recognise individual competence or accreditation in that space. Perhaps – but very much just thinking aloud at this point – some form of ILP/Dark Sky recognition or accreditation based on the same peer review process as we do generally,” Justin added.
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