Balancing Needs for Darkness & Light. A managerial perspective on the nocturnal environment.

We employ a funnel research approach to analyse the nocturnal environment of Wallonia (Belgium) towards more sustainable nightscapes. Firstly, we consider Wallonia's nocturnal environment as a Social-Ecological-Technical System and analyse it with a Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal approach. This comprehensive approach enables the identification of the macro-environmental factors that should be prioritised for dark sky protection and sustainable lighting. Subsequently, we focus on the local actors involved in public lighting management, with a case study based on stakeholder interviews. We characterise their interrelationships with the i* framework. In the context of the socio-technical transition towards Light-Emitting Diode technology, we analyse the technology procurement process and identify how the dynamics of collaboration among actors contribute towards the integration of organisations, humans and infrastructure for reaching sustainability goals. In this stakeholder network, we identify citizens as essential actors influencing the local authorities, the buyers in the procurement process. Consequently, we employ quantitative survey analysis to identify the nocturnal mobility habits of the Walloon population, and to determine their acceptance of public lighting reduction strategies. The analysis is completed with the consideration of psychological aspects related to the nocturnal public spaces, behaviour adaptation and related acceptance of policies. Despite the apparent simplicity of mitigating light pollution through light reduction strategies, the issue is demonstrably more complex. Our research delves into the contextual factors influencing light reduction initiatives, including the interplay between stakeholders, social needs, and the public anxieties associated with darkness. The proposed comprehensive framework possesses the potential for broader application to other forms of environmental pollution.