Martin Morgan-Taylor

Martin researches the legal impact of light pollution. Namely the issues raised by wasted carbon emissions and wasted money from wasted light, harm to human and animal health, as well as the loss of the night sky and the relevancy of dark sky places.

Martin also researches consumer protection, particularly the protection of consumers against unfair commercial practices and terms, as well as protection when buying online.

Consumer Law, light pollution    

View a full listing of Professor Martin Morgan-Taylor's publications and outputs.

The Legal Methods of Controlling Light Pollution in the UK
Morgan-Taylor, M. (2012) The Legal Methods of Controlling Light Pollution in the UK. in Conference proceedings, pp 257-276, 19 September 2012, Seoul, Korea.

Morgan-Taylor, M. and Willet C, ‘Recognising the Limits of Transparency in EU Consumer Law’ in Kenny and Deveny (eds) European Consumer Protection in Europe, publisher CUP 2012.

Robert Lockwood, Tony Selwyn & Martin Morgan-Taylor, A Review of Local Authority Road Lighting Initiatives Aimed at Reducing Costs, Carbon Emissions and Light Pollution, Temple Report for Defra, 2011.

Martin researches and acts as a consultant for Defra and others concerning the legal aspects of light pollution. This covers the wasted carbon emissions and wasted money from wasted light, harm to human and animal health, as well as the loss of the night sky and the creation of dark sky places. He is also involved with the C.I.E. over its guidance for minimising light pollution.

Martin also researches consumer protection, particularly the protection of consumers against unfair commercial practices and terms, as well as protection when buying online.

• Undergraduate- LL.B. BA. Consumer Law, E Commerce, Commercial Law.
• Postgraduate- LL.M in Business Law. Consumer Law, E Commerce Law, Light Pollution.
• PhD supervisor.

Undergraduate- LL.B. BA

Postgraduate- LL.M in Business Law

PhD supervisor

International Darksky Association, Galileo Award, October 2011, for legal efforts to protect the night sky from light pollution.

Campaign for Dark Skies, Joy Griffiths Award, December 2007, for legal efforts to reduce light pollution.

International Darksky Association, Certificate of Appreciation, August 2007, for legal efforts to reduce light pollution.

International Darksky Association, Executive Director Special Award, August 2007, for legal efforts to reduce light pollution.

Vice President, International Darksky Association 2011- 13

Board Member, International Darksky Association 2007-2017

Legal Adviser, UK Comission for Dark Skies 1997-

• Member, Higher Education Academy (current).
• Member, UK division of the C.I.E. (International Illumination Commission).
• Fellow, Royal Astronomical Society.
• Vice President, International Dark Sky Association 2011- 2013, Board Member, 2008- 2016 & Chair, International Committee 2010-2016.

8^th Sustainable Healthy Buildings Conference, Seoul, September 2012.

Planning, Exterior Lighting and the Environment, April 2012, de Montfort University, Leicester.

Light Pollution Legislation and Guidance Update, ILP London Regional Meeting, 8th September 2011.

UK and European Legislative Moves in Obtrusive Lighting, 22nd Annual General Meeting and Conference, IDA, New Jersey, USA, April 2011.

UK Light Pollution Laws and Initiatives, 21st Annual General Meeting and Conference, IDA, Arizona, USA, 26th June 2010.

Morgan-Taylor, M. and Willet C, ‘Recognising the Limits of Transparency in EU Consumer Law’, European Consumer Protection in Europe, University of Leeds, December 2009.

The Protection of the Night Sky, Starlight 2009 UNESCO workshop and discussion, La Palma, November 2009.

The Protection of the Night Sky, Starlight 2009 UNESCO workshop and discussion, Fuerteventura, March 2009.

Example Light Pollution Laws of Earth, The Role of Astronomy and Culture, International Astronomical Union Symposium 260, UNESCO, Paris. Jan. 2009.

A UK Empirical Study on Light Nuisance, 8th 7th European Symposium on the Protection of the Night Sky, Light Pollution and Global Warming, Austria, Sept. 2008.

A UK Empirical Study on Light Nuisance, 20th Annual general Meeting and Conference, IDA, Arizona, USA, June 2008.

Defra “Roll Out” Programme, Light as a Statutory Nuisance, Bath, February, 2008 (As a technical advisor to Defra).

Defra “Roll Out” Programme, Light as a Statutory Nuisance, Manchester, February, 2008 (As a technical advisor to Defra).

Global Light Pollution Laws, 7th European Symposium on the Protection of the Night Sky, Light Pollution and Global Warming, Bled, Slovenia, October 2007.

Light Pollution as a Statutory Nuisance, talk to EHO Local Group, Worcester, July 2007.

Experience and Development of Regulations in Defence of the Night Sky, “Starlight 2007” conference, La Palma, April 2007. 

Light Pollution as a Statutory Nuisance, National Society of Clean Air Conference, London 14th February, 2007.

Light Pollution, at "Environment: Survival and Sustainability", February 2007, at the Near East University, Northern Cyprus.

Light Pollution, Nuisance and the Law, September 2006, 5th European Dark Sky Symposium, Portsmouth, September 2006.

Light Pollution and Statutory Nuisance, SLS Conference, Keele, 2006.

Lighting as a Statutory Nuisance, delivered at the Institute of Lighting Engineers National Conference, Manchester, Oct. 2006.

Consultant for Temple on the legal aspects of light pollution.

Tim Higham, statutory nuisance.

• Member, CIE Technical Committee 5.28. Updating the Guide on the Limitation of the Effects of Obtrusive Light.
• Member, ILP working group updating the Notes for the Reduction of Obtrusive Light.
• Member, The Protection of the Night Sky workshops, Starlight 2009 UNESCO, Fuerteventura, March 2009 and Starlight 2009 UNESCO, La Palma, November 2009.

An advisor to Government and local authorities on light pollution; a major contributor to the DEFRA Review of Local Authority Road Lighting Initiatives Aimed at Reducing Costs, Carbon Emissions and Light Pollution, 2011.

Our UK questionnaire for the European Commission Digital Content Services report (University of Amsterdam), September 2011, has been commended, and is being used to help form European policy with respect to digital services.