Edu365.cat

Sustainable development can be defined as the socioeconomic growth that meets human needs while taking care of the environment and its natural resources, so that the welfare of today's generation does not compromise that of future generations. Growing public awareness of the benefits of sustainable development is illustrated by the need to promote renewable energy sources and to limit, insofar as is possible, all the various forms of pollution, such as light and noise pollution.

Indeed, various organisations and institutions are focusing their attention more and more on the issue of light and noise pollution. For example, on the 3rd of May this year, the Government of Catalonia passed a by-law (which enforces a law passed in 2001) on the prevention of light pollution, and for three years now the prevention of noise pollution in the Principality of Catalonia is backed up by law.

Before describing the effects of both of these forms of contamination, we should give them a concise definition. Light pollution can be defined as the excess or incorrect set-up of night-time lighting. Obviously, light pollution cannot be avoided completely, but it can be minimised. Noise pollution, on the other hand, is an excess of environmental sound.