World Ozone Day
"Ozone For Life"
35 Years Of Ozone Layer Protection
16th September 2020.
This year's theme for the World Ozone Day 2020 is "Ozone for life: 35 years of ozone layer protection".
In 1985, the governments at the global level adopted the
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. Two years later in
1987, the Montreal Protocol was drafted where the governments, scientists and
industry worked together to cut out 99 per cent of all ozone-depleting
substances.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP),
the ozone layer is recovering and expected to return to pre-1980 values by
mid-century all thanks to the Montreal Protocol. Meanwhile, supporting the Montreal
Protocol, the Kigali Amendment, which came into force in 2019, will work
towards reducing hydrofluorocarbon (HFCs) and greenhouse gases that have
climate-warming potential and are damaging to the environment.
Importance of ozone layer
The ultraviolet radiation or UV rays emitted by the sun have
the potential to cause skin cancer and cataract. These harmful rays also cause
significant damage not only to humans but also to plant and marine life. Hence,
the ozone layer acts as a protective shield against all such harmful radiations
from the sun.
Ways to protect
ozone layer
One of the important ways to protect ozone layer
is to avoid using harmful gases like CFCs chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs),
halogenated hydrocarbon, methyl bromide and nitrous oxide in various processes.
The second option is to minimise the use of personal vehicles like cars that releases carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides and resort to public transport thereby saving financial resources and the environment.
Another way to save the ozone layer is to properly maintain your air conditioners. If ACs are not properly maintained, there are high chances that CFC gas is released into the atmosphere.
People should also avoid using cosmetics, hair sprays, room fresheners as these products release Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
Several
greenhouse gases are produced during the manufacturing of chemical fertilisers.
Hence, we should avoid the use of fertilisers in agriculture and replace them
with organic ones.
The ozone layer, a fragile shield of gas, protects the Earth
from the harmful portion of the rays of the sun, thus helping preserve life on
the planet.
The phaseout of controlled uses of ozone depleting substances
and the related reductions have not only helped protect the ozone layer for
this and future generations, but have also contributed significantly to global
efforts to address climate change; furthermore, it has protected human health
and ecosystems by limiting the harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching the
Earth.This year, we celebrate 35 years of the Vienna Convention
and 35 years of global ozone layer protection. Life on Earth would not be
possible without sunlight. But the energy emanating from the sun would be too
much for life on Earth to thrive were it not for the ozone layer. This
stratospheric layer shields Earth from most of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet
radiation. Sunlight makes life possible, but the ozone layer makes life as we
know it possible.World Ozone Day, held on September 16, celebrates this achievement. It shows
that collective decisions and action, guided by science, are the only way to
solve major global crises. In this year of the COVID-19 pandemic that has
brought such social and economic hardship, the ozone treaties’ message of
working together in harmony and for the collective good is more important than
ever. The slogan of the day, ‘Ozone for life’, reminds us that not only is
ozone crucial for life on Earth, but that we must continue to protect the ozone
layer for future generations.
Implementation of the Montreal Protocol
Implementation of the Montreal Protocol progressed well in developed
and developing countries. All phase-out schedules were adhered to in most
cases, some even ahead of schedule. Attention focused initially on chemicals with
higher ozone-depletion potentials including CFCs and halons. The phase-out
schedule for HCFCs was more relaxed due to their lower ozone-depletion
potentials and because they have also been used as transitional substitutes for
CFCs.
The HCFC phase-out schedule was introduced in 1992 for developed and developing
countries, the latter with a freeze in 2015, and final phase-out by 2030 in
developed countries and 2040 in developing countries. In 2007, Parties to the
Montreal Protocol decided to accelerate the HCFC phase-out schedule for both
developed and developing countries.
Universal ratification
On 16th September 2009, the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol became
the first treaties in the history of the United Nations to achieve universal
ratification.
Kiga Amendment
The Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
reached agreement at their 28th Meeting of the Parties on 15 October 2016 in
Kigali, Rwanda to phase-down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
-source: UN
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