Let's not get confused about the exact nature of the problem here... the issue is not with LEDs but with basic human behavior.
When comparing factual data there is no doubt that LED systems are much more efficient that conventional lighting, i.e., 160 lm/W for today's good LED streetlight luminaires vs. 105 lm/W max for the best HID luminaire out there (excluding SOX, which has become irrelevant). So the energy saving realized by switching to LEDs is a proven fact, there's no question about it.
The problem here is that because LED technology uses less energy for the same illumination, people use more of it, often in places were there was no streetlights before, resulting at the end in more energy consumption and more overall light pollution. This is all a result of
the Jevons paradox. There's nothing wrong with LEDs here, but with how the technology is applied by end users.