The topic of climate change is typically associated with resentment and lack of change. However, despite the fact that we still have a long way to go, small meaningful steps have been made toward progress.  

The ozone is the second layer of the earth’s atmosphere. It absorbs bits of radiation (especially Ultraviolet radiation) that hits the earth and protects life on earth from its harmful effects. The ozone layer is extremely thin, only making up 0.00006% of the earth’s atmosphere and about 300 dobson units (3 millimetres). The Antarctic ozone hole, is a particular region of the stratosphere where the ozone concentration drops to only 100 dobson units. The “hole” is more so a layer thinner than what it should be rather than an actual break, and the ozone layer is most thin near the poles of the earth.

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Chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are used in aerosol sprays, foams, and packing materials. In 1974 scientists Professor F. Sherwood Rowland and Dr. Mario Molina demonstrated that CFCs could be the source of inorganic release of chlorine in the stratosphere which could destory the ozone layer. As a result, many companies and governments decided to reduce the use of ozone harming chemicals Twenty seven nations signed the Montreal Protocol in 1987 to Reduce Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, CFCs was one of them. Since then, although the ozone hole size have fluctuate, the general trend has been towards progress. Scientists predict that the Ozone hole will disappear by the 2060s.

Although the Montreal Protocol did limit a few of the toxic greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere, it did not limit all of the toxic greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere in general, as a result, climate change caused by these gases have somewhat hindered the recovery of the ozone layer. However, as demonstrated by the Montreal Protocol, the world can work together to slow down climate change and global warming.

Works Cited

“Is the Ozone Layer Finally Healing Itself? | Britannica.” Web. Jan 21, 2023 <https://www.britannica.com/story/is-the-ozone-layer-finally-healing-itself>.

“Nasa Ozone Watch: Dobson Unit Facts.” Web. Jan 21, 2023.

“Ozone Layer | National Geographic Society.” Web. Jan 21, 2023 <https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/ozone-layer>.

US Department of Commerce, NOAA. “NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory – Halocarbons and other Atmospheric Trace Species.” Web. Jan 21, 2023 <https://gml.noaa.gov/hats/publictn/elkins/cfcs.html>.“While the ozone layer is healing, pitfalls remain.” UNEP. Thu, 09/15/ – 16:15 2022. Web. Jan 21, 2023 <http://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/while-ozone-layer-healing-pitfalls-remain>.

Image credits: 

By Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center - JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=108456866