Ghent University’s Faculty of Law is conducting a comprehensive analysis of the policies, laws, and regulations related to light and noise pollution. This analysis will serve as the foundation for future policy briefs, aimed at guiding the actions of the EU and national governments in reducing the impacts of light and noise pollution.
The work on PLAN-B is being carried out by Prof. Dr. Geert Van Hoorick, Prof. Dr. Hendrik Schoukens, and LLM Yana Yakushina (Doctoral Research Fellow).
Prof. dr. Geert Van Hoorick
Geert Van Hoorick, a highly distinguished academic and former lawyer, holds a doctorate in law from Ghent University, where he now serves as a professor of administrative and environmental law. He has authored several influential books on environmental and administrative law and has led significant research projects, including the Flemish Nature Code. He is a member of the Environmental Law Commission of the IUCN and the European Environmental Law Forum. From 2012 to 2018, he chaired Bird Protection Flanders, and since October 2022, he has been the head of Ghent University’s Department of European, Public, and International Law. For the PLAN-B project, Geert serves as the General Coordinator and leads the legal research on noise pollution regulations.
Prof. dr. Hendrik Schoukens
Prof. Dr. Hendrik Schoukens earned his law degree from the Catholic University of Leuven in 2005 and a Master’s in Environmental Law from Ghent University in 2007. He began his career as a lawyer at LDR, specialising in nature conservation and environmental regulations. Hendrik completed his doctorate on “Legal Aspects of Ecological Restoration” in 2017 and has since supported courses in International Public Law at Ghent University. In September 2021, he was appointed as a professor in Environmental Law. For PLAN-B, Hendrik is involved in the legal research on noise pollution regulations.
LLM Yana Yakushina
Yana Yakushina is a lawyer, researcher and educator dedicated to dark sky protection and space law. She has worked with and advised various organisations such as the EU Commission, DarkSky International, the International Astronomical Union (IAU), Starlight Foundation, Space Court Foundation, national environmental ministries, and UNOOSA, contributing to significant projects on light pollution mitigation. Her research includes leading analyses for the IAU Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky, contributing to the report of the IISL Working Group on Light Pollution from a Space Law Perspective, collecting the Database of Light Pollution Laws (DarkSky International project) and co-authoring the Manifesto for Tackling Light Pollution & Proposing EU Light Pollution Monitoring.
Currently pursuing PhD at the University of Ghent as part of the PLAN-B project, Yana is further working on shaping the regulatory framework for recognising light pollution as a critical environmental issue in Europe. Yana also serves as one of the Scientific Coordinators of the PLAN-B project.
The primary objectives of the team’s work include:
- Analysis of the legal and policy framework, exploring synergies at international, EU, regional, and national levels.
- Identification of suitable regulations for mitigating light and noise pollution across these levels.
- Proposal of innovative regulatory solutions to reduce and prevent the negative impacts of light and noise pollution on biodiversity and ecosystem services.
You can meet the whole PLAN-B consortium and its Advisory Board and get involved in tackling light and noise pollution in Europe.