by Kanika, Vanshika & Vidushi
World Ozone day, also referred to as International Day for the preservation of the ozone layer, is celebrated on the 16th of September every year to spread awareness in society about ozone layer depletion in our atmosphere. Also, to find out measures and practices that will help prevent its further lack.
On this occasion people across the world conduct seminars and talks discussing the importance of this day and why we should celebrate it.
As far as the theme is concerned for this year (2022), it is Montreal protocol @35:- Global Corporation protecting life on earth.
Now you may question, what is Montreal protocol?
It is an international Treaty that was signed in 1987 to prevent ozone layer depletion by the reduction in the manufacturing of substances that are causing its depletion (ODS- Ozone-depleting Substances) along with a defined schedule for both developing and developed countries.
Every year at the Global level, the theme has been decided to show concern about the depletion of the ozone layer.
This day was first declared by the United National General Assembly (UNGA) on 19th December 1994, the reason for choosing this date was its historical significance. The first Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed on 16 September 1987 thus, to mark the importance of that day the first International Day for the preservation of the ozone layer was celebrated on 16 September 1994.
Now, let's talk about the significance of the theme for the world's ozone day this year.
Montreal Protocol@35:- Global cooperation protecting life on earth. It highlights the major impact that the Montreal protocol has on our changing climate and indicates the need to act in collaboration and successful partnerships and to build Global Cooperation for tackling issues regarding climate challenges and protecting life on planet Earth for our upcoming generation.
Importance of ozone day
● Ozone day is celebrated on 16th September every year for the sake of our earth and its people.
● We know that the ozone layer absorbs most of the UV rays coming from the sun and due to this we get protection from various diseases like cancer, eye disease, skin diseases and many more but we all are not very aware of this.
● So to spread awareness among people, the United nation general assembly declared this day as world ozone day in 1994.
● We all need to understand that this is the time to take action so that we can make our earth a better place.
Some Preventive measures to protect our earth are:-
● There are various international protocols to protect the ozone layer like the Montreal protocol in 1987 to reduce ODS and Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol to reduce HFCs in 2015
● We should minimize the use of vehicles as various harmful gases are released from vehicles which depleted the ozone layer, especially sulfur gas
● Also when a rocket is launched a lot of carbon dioxide is released which affects the ozone layer on a large scale. So, we need to find an alternative for this.
● We should use eco-friendly products.
● We should avoid the use of pesticides instead of this we can use biopesticides that do not harm our environment
● Use of nitrous oxide-releasing products should be banned or may be used in a limited amount.
● Most harmful gases are bromine, chlorine, HFCs, and CFCs. We should reduce the use of such products which produce these gases.
● We should promote more and more greenery as this helps in controlling global warming which helps in reducing ozone depletion.
Effects of ozone depletion :
Ozone layer depletion which has been caused due to various human activities has resulted in less protection from sun rays and more exposure to UV-B rays at the earth’s surface which will show its devil side not only on humans but also affect flora and fauna around the world. Good Ozone, which forms an Ozone layer that protects from harmful radiations from the sun, has been considered a friend to the atmosphere, which safeguards it. But its depletion has adverse effects on the environment which are as follows:-
Human health - Ozone depletion has led to increased amounts of UV radiation reaching the Earth which can cause adverse impacts of skin cancer, cataracts, and impaired immune systems.
Overexposure to UV is believed to cause the most fatal of all skin cancers, melanoma. Since 1990, the risk of developing melanoma has more than doubled. In addition, UV-B has been linked to the development of cataracts, a clouding of the eye’s lens.
Vegetation – Ozone depletion has led to reduced agricultural crop and commercial forest yields, reduced growth and survivability of tree seedlings, and increased susceptibility to diseases, pests, and other stresses such as harsh weather. Harmful UV radiation can also damage sensitive crops, such as soybeans, and reduce these crop yields. Some research found that marine phytoplankton, which is the base of the ocean food chain, on which other zooplanktons and other marine life is directly dependent are under stress from UV radiation, whose depletion can lead marine life to come to an end.
Effects on animals - A November 2011 report by scientists at the Institute of Zoology in London found that whales off the coast of California have shown a sharp rise in sun damage, because of ozone layer depletion. The studies have been done on over 150 whales in the Gulf of California and found widespread evidence of epidermal damage commonly associated with acute and severe sunburn, having cells that form when the DNA is damaged by UV radiation. Apart from whales many other animals such as dogs, cats, sheep, and terrestrial ecosystems also suffer the negative effects of increased UV-B radiations.
On biogeochemical cycles- Increases in UV-B radiation could affect terrestrial and aquatic biogeochemical cycles: It can alter both sources and sinks of greenhouse and chemically important trace gases (e.g., carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbonyl sulfide, ozone, and possibly other gases). These potential changes would contribute to biosphere-atmosphere feedbacks that mitigate or amplify the atmospheric concentrations of these gases.
Other EFFECTS
● Synthetic polymers, naturally occurring biopolymers, as well as some other materials of commercial interest are considered to be adversely affected by UV-B radiation.
● Yet, increases in UVB levels will accelerate their breakdown, limiting the length of time for which they are useful outdoors.
Most affected countries
The ozone hole over Antarctica has in some instances grown so large that it affected various parts of the world consisting including the regions of Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, and South Africa, environmentalists have been concerned that the increase in surface UV could be significant and it could cause great damage to different parts worldwide. Many countries are concerned about its harmful effects so they are banning CFCs like CFC-11, which are destroying the most fragile ozone layer. Some countries also contended that developed countries should act first and come back to developing countries later.
The Montreal Protocol is proof positive that the earth’s nearly 200 countries can cooperate to save their citizens from a planetary pollution catastrophe. Many countries do believe that if we can protect the ozone layer, we can find a way to protect the climate.
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