Towards Preserving The Ozone Layer

Both now and the past, mankind has been bewildered by so many environmental challenges. Currently, the worst of these challenges is mainly attributable to the depletion of the Ozone Layer.

The Ozone Layer is a fragile shield of gases that protects the earth from the harmful ultraviolet radiation or rays of the sun thereby helping to preserve lives on the planet in question.

A number of commonly used chemicals like halocarbons and/or organic compounds have been found to be extremely damaging to the Ozone Layer. Halocarbons are chemicals in which one or more carbon atoms are linked to one or more halogen atoms such as fluorine, chlorine and bromine. The halocarbons containing bromine usually have much higher Ozone-Depleting Potential than those that consist of chlorine.

The scientific confirmation of the depletion of the Ozone Layer prompted the international community to establish a mechanism for cooperation to take drastic action to protect the Ozone Layer. This was formalised in the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, which was adopted by 28 countries on March 22, 1985. In September 1987, this led to the drafting of the Treaty on The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, which was duly signed by all the United Nations member states.

The fundamental aim of the Montreal Protocol is to protect the Ozone Layer by taking severe measures to control total global production and consumption of substances that deplete it, with the ultimate target towards their elimination from the basis of developments in scientific knowledge and technological information.

In view of the steady progress made under the Montreal Protocol, in 2003, the former United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, stated, “Perhaps, the single most successful international agreement till date has been the Montreal Protocol.” His views were shared widely among the international community.

The phase out of controlled uses of Ozone-depleting substances has not only helped to protect the Ozone Layer, but has contributed immensely and significantly to global efforts of addressing climate change. This year’s commemoration of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is calling for greater awareness regarding the Ozone Layer’s preservation in order to fully actualise the aim of this remarkable globally recognised crusade.

During the 2013 commemoration of the Day, which was marked with the theme, “A Healthy Atmosphere: The future we want,” in his message to the world, the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, commended all who had made the Montreal Protocol such an outstanding example of international cooperation. He went further to urge governments, industries, the civil society and other partners to apply the same spirit to the other great environmental and developmental challenges of our time.

As the world celebrates this year’s event, we are expected to contribute our quota towards actualising an atmosphere or environment that is totally free from any harmful substance. Nigeria as a country can encourage this annual event by implementing drastic and severe measures that would help to eradicate all the activities contrary to the preservation of the Ozone Layer such as bush burning, use of generators and other household mechanical devices in open places, coupled with other industrial practices that exhibit carbon monoxide or smoke as well as other substances that negatively affect the Ozone Layer.