The earth's atmosphere is made up of several layers, the major layers are the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. Located between approximately 15 and 35 kilometers above the surface is the stratosphere containing the ozone layer, which protects us from the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation that can cause skin cancer and cataracts, suppress immune systems, and also damage plants. The ozone layer reflects 98% of the harmful UV rays. The ozone layers consist of ozone (O3) which is a highly reactive molecule comprised of three oxygen atoms that occur naturally in small amounts. Ozone is one of the trace gases in the atmosphere.
US chemists noted that, in 1970 the extensively used CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) in appliances (refrigerator, freezers, aerosol spray) were building up in the atmosphere and thinning the ozone layer. However, it was widely disputed whether the CFCs created at the surface would be able to harm the ozone layer up until the beginning of 1980, when field data from Antarctica revealed an ozone layer decline that rocked the world. The Southern Continent's ozone layer had decreased by more than 50% by 1987, and after 1980, the layer continued to deteriorate by 20% per year. Scientists were concerned that these increases in UV radiation could have a severe impact on ecosystems and human health as the amount of stratospheric ozone decreased. Projections suggested the ozone layer would collapse by 2050, increasing skin cancer rates, harming crops, and destroying the marine food chain.
The Montreal Protocol then saved the day in 1987. All 198 UN Members States have accepted this protocol, making it the only UN treaty to date to have done so. The protocol prohibited the creation of compounds that deplete the ozone layer. Up until the year 2000, the amount of man-made ozone depleting compounds in the atmosphere rose. Despite being outlawed upon the implementation of the protocol, CFCs still persist for a very long time in the atmosphere. Chlorine and other ozone-depleting substances have been decreasing in the atmosphere ever since. Around 2070, according to scientists, chlorine levels should return to normal. By then the Antarctic ozone hole will shrink to smaller than eight million square miles. The ozone layer has shown overall signs of improvement as a result of the Montreal Protocol. The UV radiation would have increased by 20% if the Montreal Protocol hadn't been implemented. Because CFCs are also a greenhouse gas, the Montreal Protocol not only helps close the ozone hole but also lessens global warming.
This demonstrates that the best way to address pressing global issues is through collaborative action that is informed by science. This kind of encouraging news ought to motivate us all to work together to limit the increase in the earth's temperature. The media is crucial in translating knowledge into practice; CFCs were mentioned in practically every publication to reach a wider audience, including newspapers, magazines, and movies. Mass knowledge of this kind puts pressure on global leaders to take prompt action. It was simple to bring about significant improvements with alternative chemicals because to government and business backing. Even while we now have a wide range of alternatives—electric cars, sustainable energy—we are still lagging behind and won't be able to keep the world's temperature below 1.5 degrees Celsius. As Dr. Shanklin says "And when the scientists send a warning, the politicians need to listen". The only way we will be able to combat global warming is to fund researches and act immediately.
