With International Day for the preservation of the Ozone Layer being around the corner, I would like us to look back at a treaty that became of the many measures in ozone recovery. In 2010, a  report released on the 16th of September about the successful efforts to protect the ozone layer. Not only that, but the union of international relations proved to stop additional ozone losses as well who are the international relations you ask? Well, they go by the World Meteorological Organization and U.N. Environment Program. Jointly, their report is the first comprehensive update in four years.

The ozone layer protects life on Earth from harmful levels of ultraviolet rays. So ozone depletion does the exact opposite, where the shield starts to  thin-out because of ozone depleting chemicals, such as chlorofluorocarbons found in refrigerants and aerosol spray. This phenomenon started in the latter part of the 20th century, and continued to harm the stratosphere. 

So in a bid to save the ozone layer, the international community signed the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone Layer, which went into effect in 1989. The treaty calls for phasing out production and consumption of ozone depleting substances. 

World Meteorological Organization Research Department Director Len Barrie said that the treaty works and has protected us from severe ozone depletion over the past decade, global ozone, including ozone in the polar regions. However, Len carried on by saying that the ozone is no longer decreasing, but not yet increasing either. There is, secondly, new information about the two-way link between ozone Depletion, ozone processes, and climate change, which is is a very important advancement. 

Futhermore, the report states that many substances that deplete the ozone layer also are potent greenhouse gases. Therefore, it says, the Montreal Protocol has provided substantial benefits by reducing climate change.

Atmospheric Environment Research Division Senior Scientific Officer Geir Broothen of the World Meteorological Organization says the ozone layer is projected to return to 1980 levels by the middle of this century. 

What I found of a momentous achievement is thatthe Montreal Protocol also has direct benefits for public health. The report states that without the treaty, ozone depleting substances had the potential to increase ten-fold by 2050. And, this in turn, might have led to up to 20 million more cases of skin cancer and 130 million more cases of cataracts.In addition, the report says, the thinning ozone layer would have caused damage to human immune systems, wildlife and agriculture.

Continuous work such as this, is making a difference every day, every year... And at this current rate, the hope of Earth's global temperature decreasing will not be an impossible issue to execute, but will be accomplished in due time.

Reference:

Voanews. 2016. UN: Efforts to save Ozone layer a success. Online. Available : https://www.google.co.za/amp/s/www.voanews.com/amp126018.html. Accessed: September 2, 2018. September 16, 2010.