Positive signs in ozone recovery

In the most recent report, international efforts to prevent the destruction of the ozone layer have achieved initial success.

>>>The ozone layer shows signs of rapid recovery
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At the United Nations International Day for Preservation of the Ozone Layer (UN International Day for Preservation of the Ozone Layer), the report from 300 scientists' research also showed the latest information about the impact the overall climate of the Earth as well as the impact of climate change the ozone layer in the future.

Ozone flakes are showing signs of recovery. (Illustration)

By convention, the international day to protect the ozone layer is September 16 every year and this is also the day this agreement was signed in Montreal (Canada) in 1987. The Montreal Agreement provides strict regulations on things The ozone-depleting substance thus aims to protect the ozone layer by preventing the use of substances such as CFCs which are considered to be ozone-depleting agents and cause a greenhouse effect. This year, the report of 300 scientists once again confirmed the Montreal agreement is still working.

The report shows that the ozone layer has not been thinned nor thickened. Thanks to the Montreal agreement, scientists planned to restore the ozone layer at the two poles of the Earth back to pre-1980 status. However, it is likely that the hole in the south pole of ozone may not be possible. recovered by this action has both positive and negative meanings. According to studies from Leeds University, the southernmost ozone hole can prevent global warming. Here, the level of ultraviolet rays remains high and its impact on the climate surface is becoming more pronounced, creating important changes in temperature and wind. At latitudes between the two hemispheres, the level of ultraviolet rays remains stable and almost unchanged over the past several decades.

Another complicated issue: while the CFC substance is banned, the need to use alternatives such as HCFC and HFC is increasing. HCFC and HFC are both powerful greenhouse gases, the researchers predict the rate of use of these substances will decrease in the next decade but now, this rate is increasing rapidly compared to 4 years ago (8% / year). ). For example, HFC-23 is a by-product of HCFC-22 production and has no effect on the ozone layer, however, HFC-23 can cause a greenhouse effect of 14,000 times that of CO. ₂ .

In addition, the report emphasizes that climate change will continue to affect the ozone layer because the major greenhouse gases are CO2 emitted by human activity. Achim Steiner, deputy secretary-general and executive director of the UNEP's environmental program, said: "A group of international experts working with UNEP concluded: current commitments under The Copenhagen Accords still cannot guarantee global temperatures to rise below 2 degrees Celsius between now and 2050. If this goal is to be achieved, it is equivalent to cutting 4.7 billion tons of CO2 each. year."

According to the secretary of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Michel Jarraud: "Problems with the ozone layer have demonstrated the importance of monitoring and studying the Earth's atmosphere for a long time. the ozone layer continued to be destroyed as well as not discovered in time, serious damage to the atmosphere and the global environment was evident, and if there was no Montreal agreement with the contents of the conference. protection of the ozone layer in Vienna (Austria) in 1985, perhaps, the level of substances harmful to the ozone layer will increase by 10 times by 2050. Thereby, there will be more than 20 million cases worldwide. skin cancer and more than 130 million cases of diseases such as cataracts, loss of immune system and the agricultural sector is also seriously affected. "