21^st Eco-gen Ambassador Program- Theme report, September 2018

'Ozone Depletion and International Project to stop it'

Introduction

Under the Montreal Protocol in the late 1980s World governments agreed to protect the Earth?s ozone layer by phasing out ozone-depleting substances (ODS) emitted by human activities. In Europe, the Protocol is implemented through EU-wide legislation with clear objectives, strict regulations and various measures.

Montreal Protocol and resulting global action has halted the depletion of the ozone layer to some extent and allowed it to start recovering, but much remains to be done to ensure a steady recovery. Through this report, I am trying to throw light on the topic in general, with specific focus on the efforts in EU to halt the progression of ozone depletion.

 

Ozone layer

The ozone layer is a natural layer of the gas that exists in the Stratosphere, 10 to 50 km above the Earth's surface. It is crucial to life on Earth as it filters out most of the harmful UV radiation of the sun, thus protecting humans and other living beings.

 

Ozone depletion

Atmospheric concentrations of ozone can vary naturally due to weather changes, locational causes or volcanic eruptions. However, in the 1970s scientists discovered that the ozone layer was being depleted beyond levels that could be attributed to natural causes. Scientific evidences traced this to man-made ozone-depleting chemical substances, mostly introduced in the 1970s in a wide range of applications, mainly refrigerators, air conditioners and fire extinguishers packaging, insulation, solvents, or aerosol propellants. The ODS are split into two groups under the: Class I ODS, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and Class II ODS, such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).

 

Ozone hole

Ozone losses in Northern Hemisphere are lesser than in the southern hemisphere, and Ozone depletion is greatest at the South Pole, mainly in late winter and early spring, between August to November, with peak depletion usually in early October, when often ozone is severely and completely destroyed in large areas creating a 'ozone hole' visible bigger than the Antarctic continent itself, in satellite images.

Ozone layer recovery is extremely slow, as ODS remain in the stratosphere for decades. Due to this reason, the hole grew further even in the years following ratification of the Montreal Protocol. However it is a relief to know that the maximum size of the ozone hole is now decreasing.

 

Effects of ozone depletion for humans and the environment

Ozone layer depletion causes increased UV radiation levels at the Earth's surface, which can damage health of humans and other life forms alike as below:

* Increases in certain types of skin cancers, eye cataracts and immune deficiency disorders.

* Altering growth, food chains and biochemical cycle, in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

* Reducing agricultural productivity by affecting plant growth.

 

The video in the link below offers an easy explanation about ozone layer and depletion.

https://vimeo.com/126889534

 

International Action to protect the ozone layer

Through the 1970s and the 1980s, the international community became increasingly concerned that ODS would harm the ozone layer. This concern lead to international cooperation and treaties to address the issue.

1985- The Vienna Convention

* A precursor to the Montreal Protocol, this framework convention recognised the need for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and formalized international cooperation on this issue.

* In accordance with the provisions of the Convention, this cooperation resulted in the countries of the world signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

1987- The Montreal Protocol

* 1st international treaty to be signed by all countries of the world, and considered as the greatest environmental success story in the history of the UN

* Aims to cut down production and consumption of ODS, with the long time goal to reduce their presence in the atmosphere and thus protect the Earth's ozone layer.

 

Amendments to the Montreal Protocol

After the Montreal Protocol was signed, new data showed worse-than-expected damage to the ozone layer. The Parties to the Protocol have accordingly worked out various amendments to alter the terms of the 1987 agreement. The London Amendment (1990), Copenhagen Amendment (1992), Montreal Amendment (1997), Beijing Amendment (1999) and the Kigali Amendment (2016) further improved the protocol for better results by:

* Accelerating the phase-out and ODS emission schedule

* Adding to the list of controlled ODS

* Tightening controls on the production and trade of HCFCs

* Extending controls to phase down the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) because these substances that were adopted by industries as ODS alternatives, are potent greenhouse gases that can contribute to climate change.

 

UN Action

The UNEP Ozone Secretariat is responsible for the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol. They work with international agencies to implement the Montreal Protocol, as well as gather data to monitor international compliance with the Protocol.

Please refer to the link to their website for a very user-friendly platform to learn about the discussion topic in detail, especially the FAQ section

http://ozone.unep.org/?language=en

https://ozone.unep.org/faq

 

I would also highly recommend the 'What you can do' section as per the link below for easy tips to be used in our daily lives to combat ozone depletion, and also to save ourselves from radiation exposure.

http://ozone.unep.org/what-you-can-do

 

OzonAction Programme (by the UNEP Division of Technology, Industry, and Economics) provides industry, government, and other stakeholders in developing countries with information exchange services, training, and networking, as also assistance with Country Programmes and Institutional Strengthening projects.

 

Assessment Panels

The Parties the Montreal Protocol have advisory bodies called Assessment Panels responsible for issuing regular reports on progress on implementing the ODS phase-outs, including assessments of alternatives and emissions reduction. These are listed below:

TEAP (Technology and Economic Assessment Panel)(TEAP) provides technical information related to the alternative technologies

SAP (Scientific Assessment Panel) assesses the status of the depletion of the ozone layer and relevant atmospheric science issues.

EEAP (Environmental Effects Assessment Panel) assesses the various effects of ozone layer depletion.

 

EU action

The 'Ozone Regulation' – Regulation (EC) 1005/2009 is the EU legislation on ODS. Among the strictest and most advanced in the world, it provides legal guidelines within the European Union, for protection of ozone layer. It has 2 main objectives:

* To fulfill the obligations of the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, to which the EU and all of its Member States are parties.

* To ensure a higher level of ambition in the EU than required by the Protocol, in areas where this is technically and economically feasible.

 

Measures taken in EU

Through a series of regulations, the EU has not only implemented the Montreal Protocol but has often phased out dangerous ODS faster than required by the protocol, through a number of measures and requirements across the EU, all aimed at minimising the use of ODS, as listed below:

* Prohibition and ban on use of ODS in many cases.

* Regulation of use of ODS (where there are no feasible alternatives) in specific applications, products and equipment, besides regulating the production of these substances and their trade in bulk with allocation of import quotas.

* Specific phase-out of HCFCs, methyl bromide and halons.

* Setting licensing requirements for all exports and imports of ODS.

* Regulating and monitoring not only 90 chemical ODS covered by the Montreal Protocol, but also five additional chemicals (called 'new substances').

* Registration for essential laboratory and analytical uses

* Labeling requirements for containers and equipment with ODS

* Defining technical requirements during reclamation and destruction of ODS

* Control of leakage and emission when using ODS

* Annual reporting by national authorities and undertakings

* National inspections

* Evaluation launched in 2017 (currently ongoing and due to be completed in 2019) to assess implementation and performance of 'Ozone Regulation' across the EU.

* Reporting to the UNEP Ozone Secretariat on uses and consumption of ODS in all EU Member States.

 

Effects of EU action

EU legislation has not only been effective in regulating ODS, but has also promoted the development of innovative technologies in this field by replacing ODS with more climate-friendly and environmentally-friendly alternatives, including alternatives to methyl bromide,  new blowing agents for insulation foam,  CFC-free metered dose inhalers for the treatment of asthma and innovative non-halon fire-fighting systems on ships and airplanes.

 

ODS and climate change

Most man-made ODS are also potent greenhouse gases. Some of them have a global warming effect up to 14,000 times stronger than carbon dioxide (CO2), the main greenhouse gas. Thus global phase-out of ODS such as HCFCs and CFCs has also made a significant positive contribution to the fight against climate change.

On the other hand, the global phase-out led to a large increase in the use of ODS alternatives in the form of fluorinated gases (F-gases) that do not damage the ozone layer, but have a significant global warming effect. Therefore, in 2016, Parties to the Montreal Protocol added the most common type of F-gas (HFCs), to the list of controlled substances.

 

Further Action required globally

Global action needs to carry on, to ensure the continued recovery of ozone layer and to reduce the impact of ODS on the Earth's climate, as listed below;

* Ensuring that existing restrictions on ODS are properly implemented and their global use continues to reduce.

* Ensuring that banks of ODS (both in storage and contained in existing equipment) are dealt with in an environmentally-friendly manner and replaced with climate-friendly alternatives.

* Ensuring that permitted uses of ODS are not diverted to illegal uses.

* Reducing use of ODS even in those applications that are not considered as consumption under the Montreal Protocol.

* Ensuring that no new chemicals or technologies emerge that could pose new threats to the ozone layer (e.g. very short-lived substances).

 

Conclusion

Since countries began taking action under the Montreal Protocol, global ODS consumption has reduced by nearly 98%. This has resulted in a significant fall in the atmospheric concentration of the most aggressive types of ODS and the ozone layer is showing the first signs of recovery and the ozone layer is expected to be fully healed near the middle of the 21st century.

 

Sources and references:

https://www.epa.gov/ozone-layer-protection/international-treaties-and-cooperation

https://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/europe-continues-to-phase-out

https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/ozone_en

https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/ozone/regulation_en

https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/climate/ozone-depleting-substances-and-climate-change/protecting-the-ozone-layer-while

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ozone_depletion.png

 

 

Maximum ozone hole area over the Antarctic, past (2000) and present (2017).

The images provide false-colour views of total ozone over the Antarctic, in September 2000 and September 2017. The purple and blue colours indicate the lowest ozone presence, while yellow and red indicate higher ozone presence.

Image Source: European Environment Agency