WHEREAS, The aesthetic beauty and wonder of the natural night sky is a shared heritage of all humankind; and

WHEREAS, The experience of standing beneath a starry night sky inspires feelings of wonder and awe, and encourages an interest in science and nature, especially among young people and out-of-area visitors within local communities; and

WHEREAS, Eighty percent of the world’s population, including many people in the State of California, live in areas where excessive artificial lighting at night, known as light pollution, disrupts natural darkness. Many people may never experience the visual wonder or ecological and health benefits of living under a dark night sky; and

WHEREAS, There is scientific evidence that light pollution causes adverse effects on human health by disrupting the circadian rhythm and contributing to depression and sleep disorders; and

WHEREAS, Light pollution is a waste of natural resources with a cost that is estimated around $3 billion per year in wasted energy in the United States and that undermines energy security efforts; and

WHEREAS, Due to efforts to protect natural darkness for future generations, the State of California is home to two International Dark Sky Communities: Borrego Springs and Julian; and three International Dark Sky Parks: Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. These communities and parks attract international astrotourism to the state for, among other things, an unpolluted view of the Milky Way Galaxy; and

WHEREAS, California boasts of a wealth of historically renowned observatories that rely on dark skies free from light pollution for research and the support of numerous astronomy clubs across the state that expand our understanding of the universe, provide educational opportunities, and foster a sense of wonder about the night sky in future generations; and

WHEREAS, Numerous parks and public lands within California are home to an abundance of nocturnal wildlife, including, but not limited to, mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, raccoons, many species of bats, owls, and migratory birds, and insects such as moths, crickets, and katydids, and these creatures rely on an undisturbed night environment to hunt, mate, and thrive; and

WHEREAS, DarkSky International is a globally recognized authority on light pollution that has created International Dark Sky Week to raise awareness of light pollution, and that provides free education and resources and offers solutions to the public to encourage the protection and enjoyment of dark night skies and responsible outdoor lighting; now, therefore, be it