How does excessive artificial light affect the environment?

Excessive artificial light significantly affects the environment by contributing to sky glow and energy wastage. Sky glow refers to the brightening of the night sky over populated areas, which can obscure the visibility of stars and disrupt natural ecosystems. Wildlife, especially nocturnal animals, depends on the patterns of natural light and dark for their behaviors, such as feeding and mating. When artificial lighting is excessive, it can disorient these creatures, leading to disruptions in their life cycles.

Additionally, energy wastage occurs because unnecessary artificial lighting requires more electricity, contributing to an increased carbon footprint and a negative impact on the environment. This unnecessary consumption not only leads to increased greenhouse gas emissions but also detracts from the natural darkness that many species rely on.

In contrast, the other options presented do not accurately reflect the environmental impacts of excessive artificial light. For example, reducing greenhouse gas emissions is not a consequence of excessive lighting; rather, it is often associated with minimizing energy use. Enhancing natural habitats and promoting agricultural growth are also incorrect because excessive artificial light generally detracts from habitat quality and can hinder agricultural practices that benefit from natural light cycles.