Governor Proclaims International Dark Sky Week 2024

INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY WEEK

2024

BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

A PROCLAMATION

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

WHEREAS, the experience of standing beneath a starry night sky inspires feelings of awe, and can encourage an interest in the sciences, technology, engineering, arts, and math; and

WHEREAS, 80 percent of the world’s population, including many North Carolinians, live under a dome of light pollution—excessive artificial light at night that disrupts natural darkness—and may never experience the visual wonder, or ecological and health benefits of living under a dark sky; and

WHEREAS, North Carolina’s three certified International Dark Sky Parks—Mayland Earth to Sky Park in Burnsville, Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute in Rodman, and Cape Lookout National Seashore—attract North Carolina residents and out-of-state visitors eager to experience starry skies firsthand, which in turn brings economic benefits to those local communities and to the state; and

WHEREAS, Asheville, Cary, Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Matthews, Raleigh, and other communities across the state have joined with local Audubon Society chapters to adopt Lights Out programs in recognition of the serious threat artificial light at night poses to migrating birds; and

WHEREAS, Lights Out participants help to provide safe passage for birds by turning off non-essential lights during spring and fall migration; and

WHEREAS, North Carolina is home to a variety of nocturnal wildlife that rely on undisturbed night environments to hunt, mate, and thrive, including synchronous fireflies—one of more than thirty firefly species found across the state; and loggerhead turtles—one of three sea turtle species that lay their eggs on North Carolina beaches; and

WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina encourages residents to raise awareness of light pollution, the enjoyment and preservation of dark skies, and the responsible use of outdoor lighting;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim April 2 – 8, 2024, as “INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY WEEK” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.

________________________________________

Roy Cooper

Governor

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this twenty-seventh day of March in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-four and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.