Ozone layer

Celebrating the 25 years of The Montreal Protocol

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Despite all the gloom and doom of current events, there are reasons to celebrate, and to hope as the Montreal Protocol turned 25. This was at the time – and it still is – a huge success on environmental and climate issues. Indeed, the World Bank noted that ” The Montreal Protocol, by controlling the consumption … Read more

HFCs rising use could accelerate global warming

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To CleanTechies : ” The increased use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in the production of refrigerators, air conditioners, and other products could play a significant role in accelerating global warming “

The United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) study notes that the projected emissions of HFCs by 2050 could equal nine billion tons of carbon dioxide — or about one-third of current CO2 emissions.

HFCs were introduced in the 1990s to replace chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which were a threat to  the ozone layer. So, this was a good idea with a strong downside.

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The hole in the ozone layer starts diminishing

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According to the UNEP : ” International efforts to protect the ozone layer are a success and have stopped additional ozone losses and contributed to mitigating the greenhouse effect.”

I believe we should capitalize on the success governments around the world achieved in 1987. We should do something for the 25th anniversary and go further with a global agreement on greenhouse gases emissions.

The Montreal Protocol cut emissions in an important way but a more targeted action is needed soon on other air pollutants like carbon dioxide and methane…

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The motivating example of the Montreal Protocol

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ozone-layerIn 1988 was signed the Montreal Protocol, which restricted the use of CFC – ChloroFluoroCarbons – gases that harm the ozone layer, our sole protection against UV rays.

To the NASA this was a tremendous success as large troubles have been avoided. Without this success, our world could suffer of massive DNA mutations induced by massive UV radiations.

If 193 countries signed a treaty to avoid this, could they do the same 20 years later to avoid climate change, biodiversity loss or oceans pollution. I want to believe we can !

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