(Daily News Scan - DNS English) World Ozone Day - 16th September
Important Points:
The ozone layer is an important layer found in our atmosphere protecting us from the harmful rays of the sun. This layer has been a matter of concern for the scientists for past few decades. Scientists have found a hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica. The depletion of ozone layer and ozone hole has created a deep concern worldwide with increase in cancer risks and other harmful effects on humans and the environment.
To make people aware of the importance of ozone in the atmosphere September 16 was declared by the United Nations General Assembly as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone layer. The theme for this year is 32 years and healing. This day is the commemoration of the day of signing in 1987 of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
In today’s DNS we know in detail about the ozone layer, its importance and what the world is doing to preserve it.
Ozone is a natural gas composed of three atoms of oxygen occurring naturally in the atmosphere. The layer of ozone is found in the lower portion of the stratosphere 20-30 kms above the earth. Ozone layer acts as a natural filter absorbing the sun’s ultraviolet rays protecting the living things. Ozone can be categorized into two i.e. good ozone and bad ozone. Good ozone occurs naturally and forms protective shield from UV rays whereas bad ozone is formed by nitrogen oxide from vehicles and industrial emission.
Depletion of the ozone layer became a matter of concern in the late 1970’s. Ozone depletion is the gradual thinning of the ozone layer meaning less protection from the sun’s rays, which is caused by the release of gases like chlorine, bromine, chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), solvents etc. CFC’s are mostly used in industries; especially these are used in refrigerators and home insulation.
If we look at the effects of ozone depletion there are several; it affects human health, has effects on plants, marine ecosystem and biological cycles. Ozone depletion causes skin cancer, premature ageing of skin, asthma and has an adverse effect on human immune system too. In some of the researches it has also been found that exposure to UV rays can damage the several parts of human eyes like lens and cornea. Not only humans but our environment is also affected, plants growth process is stopped, it leads to loss of plant species, even its damage have been seen on animals in several parts of the world. In the marine ecosystem damage has been seen in the developmental stages of fish, shrimp etc. A decrease in reproductive capacity has also been noticed.
After figuring out the adverse effects and depletion of ozone layer, in 1985 many countries adopted the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. It is a multilateral Environment Agreement that was agreed upon in 1985 in the Vienna conference. It came into force in 1988, acting as a framework for the international efforts to protect the ozone layer.
In 1987, Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone Layer was adopted. It is an international treaty with 197 member counties. It is designed to protect ozone layer by phasing out the production of Ozone Depleting Substances that are responsible for ozone depletion. This protocol has helped in recovering the ozone hole in Antarctica. Under this, the production of ozone depleting substances likes chlorofluorocarbon; Methyl chloroform and Methyl Bromide have been phased out.
In a recent study, researchers have focused on ozone concentration and have found out that in INDIA it has increased by 27% between 1990 and 2016 due to rapid industrialization, growing power demand and fossil fuels burning. It is estimated that a large percentage of India’s ozone pollution comes from transport and power plants.
India is also conscious about the ozone depletion and quality of air depleting in the country. So, India also joined hands and became a member of the Montreal Protocol. India is among the few countries in the use of technology which are non ozone depleting. India has launched the India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP). This aims to provide sustainable cooling while keeping in mind the need to protect ozone layer. It aims at assessment of cooling requirements across sectors in the next 20 years, map the technologies available to cater the cooling requirement, suggest interventions to provide sustainable cooling and thermal comfort and focus on training the air conditioning service technicians. This also focuses on domestic manufacturing of air conditioning and related equipments as well as R&D on alternative cooling technologies. The government has also launched the National Clean Air Programme, which will hopefully help in reducing the air pollution in the country.
We can stop ozone depletion by trying out some ways on personal front as well like resisting from using pesticides instead we can use some alternative eco friendly chemicals to reduce pests. Secondly we can limit the vehicles on road as they emit green house gases that deplete the ozone layer.
The measures taken by the world organisations and various countries will help in slowly recovering the ozone layer in the coming decades and will also help in enhancing the quality of air with reducing the pollution.
