I propose that the government take a serious approach to tackling all types of pollution, not just the pollution of air, land and water with toxins, greenhouse gases, household and other waste, etc. I am also referring to light pollution and noise pollution. The least has been done in this area so far.
Adequate lighting will do much for the well-being of people and wildlife, especially birds. Noise also has a distinctly negative effect on humans.
 
Lighting in populated areas, roads and individual buildings should be directed exclusively at the ground, and at a level of intensity that is still sufficient for normal visibility. With accessible electronics, it is possible to arrange for 90% of the lights in populated areas to be switched off when there is no traffic or pedestrians. The remaining 10% are kept on continuously for safety reasons. Anyone familiar with the situation in Koper knows how strongly the Port of Koper is lit. Its orange lights illuminate almost the entire Slovenian coastline. The reflection in the sky can be seen as far as Postojna. The same is true at border crossings with Croatia, major road junctions and toll stations.
 
Among the major light polluters are the floodlights that illuminate churches all over Slovenia. All of these floodlights are pointing upwards. They should be switched off first.
Reducing unnecessary lighting would reduce wasteful electricity consumption, save money and do a lot of good for ourselves and the environment we live in.
 
The situation is similar with noise. Anyone can put speakers on a vehicle and play music while driving or advertise products by talking. There are no restrictions. Nor is there any limit on the noise caused by ringing in churches. At impossible hours and as loud as possible. Even for very fervent worshippers in the immediate vicinity of churches it is disturbing, let alone for other residents. There is very little control and removal from traffic of vehicles(especially engines) that have too loud a sound due to exhaust pipe modifications. There are no clear and concrete regulations to facilitate the work of the police. In traffic, this could be regulated with one sentence, namely that everything that is not original factory is prohibited. The type-approval should state which decibels are still allowed.
 
 
We should legislate as soon as possible to set upper limits for all types of light and sound pollution, because we are also doing ourselves a huge disservice by doing so.