History:
In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly declared sixteenth September as the International Ozone Day, honoring the date of the marking, in 1987, of the Montreal Protocol on the synthetic concoctions that diminish the Ozone Layer (resolution 49/114). The purpose of the Montreal Protocol is to protect the ozone layer by taking steps to control total global production and consumption of chemicals that increase it, with the objective of their elimination based on developments in scientific knowledge and technical information.
The closing of the hole in the ozone layer was observed 30 years after the Protocol was signed. The UV rays emitted by the sun have the potential to cause skin cancer and cataract. These harmful UV rays cause damage not only to humans but also to plant and marine life. Therefore, the ozone layer acts as a protective shield against all such harmful radiations from the sun.
What is the Ozone layer?
The ozone layer called as a light shield of gas; The eliminate of controlled employments of particles draining the ozone and the comparing decreases have not just secured the ozone layer for people in the future yet have additionally global efforts to detain climate change; it has protected human health and ecosystems by limiting the harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching the Earth.
35 years of ozone layer protects life on Earth
(World Ozone Day) We celebrated This year, since 35 years of the Vienna Convention and global ozone layer protection. Life would not be possible without sunlight. But the energy emitting from the sun would be too much for life on Earth to thrive were it not for the ozone layer. This stratospheric layer protects Earth from most of the sun’s harmful UV radiation.
So, when scientists working in the late 1970s discovered that humanity was creating a gap in this protective shield, they raised the alarm. The hole brought about by the ozone-exhausting gases (ODSs) utilized in vaporizers and cooling, for example, fridges and forced air systems – was alarming to build instances of skin malignancy and waterfalls, and damage plants, crops, and ecosystems.
Governments and industry worked together according to the Convention Protocol to help out the 99% cut of all ozone-depleting particles. Because of this Protocol, the Kigali Amendment will work towards reducing hydrofluorocarbon (HFCs), greenhouse gases with robust climate-warming potential and damaging to the environment.
Chemicals that damage the Ozone Layer:
Numerous commonly used chemicals are extremely damaging to the ozone layer. Halocarbons are chemicals in which one or infinite carbon atoms are linked to one or more halogen atoms (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine). Halocarbons containing bromine usually have higher ozone-depleting potential (ODP) than chlorine. The chemicals that contain most of the chlorine and bromine for ozone depletion are methyl bromide, methyl chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, and families of chemicals known as halons, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).
Vienna Convention for the shield of the Ozone Layer:
It had been necessary to take action to protect the Ozone Layer after the confirmation of the depletion of ozone promoted the international community scientist revealed. In the Vienna Protocol, it was formalized for the Protection of the Ozone, which was adopted and signed by 28 developed countries, on 22 March 1985. In 1987, this led to the drafting of The Montreal Protocol on particles that affect the Ozone Layer.
Montreal Protocol:
The main intention of the Montreal Protocol is to protect the ozone layer by taking measures to control total global production and consumption of substances that deplete it. It’s structured around different groups of ozone-depleting substances. These groups of chemicals are listed in annexes to the Montreal Protocol text. The Protocol requires the control of nearly 100 chemicals, in many categories. For each annex of chemicals, the Treaty sets out a timetable for the phase-out of production and consumption of those substances, intending to eliminate them.
There are a few constraints for fundamental uses where no sufficient substitutes have been found, for example, in metered-portion inhalers (MDI) normally used to treat respiratory issues or halon fire-concealment frameworks used in submarines. Thanks to the Montreal Protocol, because the layer of ozone is healing and expected to return to pre-1980 values by the mid-century.
Implementation of the Montreal Protocol:
Implementation of the Montreal Protocol progressed well in developed countries. In 1992, the HCFC schedule was launched, the latter with a freeze in 2015 and final phase-out by 2030 in developed countries.
International Ozone Day 2020:
International Ozone Day in 2020, WMO featured the planned endeavors to quantify and investigate the ozone layer through its Global Atmosphere Watch network on the side of the natural strategy. Phasing them out could reduce global warming by up to 0.4°C this century. As industry redesigns appliances to replace HFCs, it’s essential to improve their energy efficiency to reduce their impact on the climate further,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
International Day for the Ozone layer shows that collective decisions and action, guided by science, are the only way to solve major global crises. This year’s COVID-19 pandemic has made such social and economic disaster, the ozone, The saying, ‘Ozone forever’, reminds everybody that in addition to the fact that ozone is vital forever, yet we should likewise keep on ensuring the ozone layer for our ages.
Ways to protect the ozone layer:
- The best option is to lessen the use of 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 maintain your air conditioners properly. If ACs are not managed properly, there are high chances that CFC gas is released into the atmosphere.
- Personages should also avoid using hair sprays, room fresheners as they release CFCs.
- Numerous greenhouse gases are generated during the manufacturing of chemical fertilizers. Thus, we should avoid the use of nourishments in agriculture and replace them with organic ones.
Closure about Ozone Day:
September 16 marks the anniversary of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that harm the Ozone Layer, makes a hole in it, and celebrates the progress in protecting the ozone layer and moves to phase out chemicals which are also potent greenhouse gases. On 16th September the UN General Assembly declared the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer in 1994, commemorating the date of the signing, in 1987.
The Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol became the first agreements on 16th September 2009 in the history of the UN to achieve universal ratification. Percentage modifications relate to the designated base-line year for the particles.
The most advanced Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion shows that the ozone layer in parts of the stratosphere has recovered at a rate of 1-3% per decade after 2000. The 2018 evaluation was administered under the sponsorship of WMO and UN Environment. “32 Years and Healing” is the theme of this year for the ozone layer.
16 September is the World International Day for the preservation of the Ozone Layer, and the most important way to protect the ozone layer is to avoid using harmful gases the same as halogenated hydrocarbon, methyl bromide, and nitrous oxide in different processes. Due to the characteristics of the gases that are responsible for ozone depletion, their chemical effects are expected to continue for between 50 and 100 years. Sunlight makes our life possible on Earth, but the ozone layer makes life as we know it possible. The benefit of the ozone layer is that ozone helps to protect life on Earth by absorbing ultraviolet radiation from the sun, particularly UV radiation that can cause skin cancer, damage crops, and destroy marine life. Without the ozone layer in the atmosphere, it would be very difficult for any living to survive on the surface
