THE ozone depletion

Introduction

The question of depletion of the ozone layer is one of the first victims of environmental emergencies faced by UNEP. Stratospheric ozone protects the earth from excessive UV-B sunlight. The atmosphere near the ground and about 10 km is called the troposphere and the stratosphere is above the troposphere, about 50 km. The thin ozone layer is formed through the skies in action of sunlight on oxygen normally. It is constantly formed and destroyed by natural processes leading to a natural balance.

Thesis Body

This ozone layer filters out ultraviolet rays and excessive sun protects life on earth against harmful effects. Its eradication has many adverse effects of increased skin cancers and eye cataracts, loss of immunity, lower plant productivity, deterioration of plastics, etc.

Until the scientific discoveries in the 1970s, ozone is considered a preserved natural features. The pioneering work of Professor Paul Crutzen in 1970 highlighted the possibility of nitrogen oxides from fertilizers and supersonic aircraft that adversely affect the ozone layer. In 1974, Rowland and Molina professor identified as ozone-depleting CFCs. Subsequent research has largely confirmed the important role of CFCs in the destruction of stratospheric ozone. In 1995, three scientists received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their groundbreaking work. CFCs are chemicals that are very versatile invented in 1928 and used in many applications such as refrigeration, air conditioning, fight the fire, metal cleaning, aerosols, etc. Their consumption is very low until the 1970s, but was quickly increased by a million ton in 1986. Most consumption is in industrialized countries, but developing countries in their population and economic growth, is catching up and have time have increased their consumption dramatically.

UNEP has addressed the issue of depletion of the ozone layer in 1976 and adopted a simple but effective strategy. He first focused on assessing the problem by convening a meeting of experts on the ozone layer in 1977. On the recommendation of the meeting, UNEP has established a Coordinating Committee of the Ozone Layer (CTC) in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). PMAC is comprised of leading experts in the world of the ozone layer.

Main Ideas

Over the next ten years, this Committee has provided regular assessments of the state of the ozone layer and more coordinated research. The report sparked international interest in people and governments and UNEP provided the framework to exploit this interest to promote international action. He gathered information, options and legal skills needed for decision making. This process resulted in the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer in 1985 and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer in 1987.

The 1987 Protocol will come a time when the industry representatives argued that the theory of ozone depletion is mere speculation. Every country has its own industrial interests in the highest spirits. Control measures resulting from chemical ozone is very low, down 50% from a freeze of CFCs and halons by 2000. Scientific analysis while further steps are clearly not enough. What saved the protocols are two distinctive ...