Reclaiming the Right to Starlight: A Human Rights Perspective on Light Pollution and Urban Criminology

Reclaiming the "Right to Starlight": A New Policy Framework for Protecting the Natural Night Sky and Criminal PreventionAbstract:"As over 80% of the global population is now deprived of a natural night sky, this research introduces the 'Right to Starlight' as a fundamental human right with critical implications for public health, psychology, and criminology.The study provides a multi-dimensional analysis of the 'starless childhood' phenomenon, linking Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) to physiological damage and emotional dysregulation in urban populations. Moving beyond environmental concerns, the paper pioneers a new paradigm in criminology, arguing that the chaotic, over-lit urban landscape serves as a stressor that contributes to social agitation and illicit behavior. By demonstrating that restorative natural darkness is an effective tool for situational crime prevention, the research challenges the traditional association between darkness and insecurity.Finally, the article proposes a robust legal framework, drawing upon international human rights instruments to advocate for the global recognition of the right to a natural night sky. This work calls for urgent legislative reforms, including the integration of light pollution control into clean air acts and the establishment of an international protocol for the protection of the cosmos as a shared human heritage."