Ozone Layer in Recovery

NWF   |   May 27, 2006

Many wonder if it is possible to get the whole world to work together to solve our shared climate crisis and to create a new energy pathway wide enough for the world to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions while meeting our needs. 

For those who doubt, let me suggest looking at the results of the Montreal Protocol concluded in 1992.  This landmark international agreement was hammered out by the various industrialized nations between 1987 and 1992 aimed at curbing the production of ozone-depleting gases.

A recent study (See findings: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/26may_ozone.htm?list109322) has found the treaty and subsequent phase outs of CFC’s to be pivotal in making improvements in ozone recovery especially in the upper stratosphere, about 11 miles up.

Co-author Mike Newchurch of the Global Hydrology and Climate Center in Huntsville, Alabama believes that ozone improvements in the upper stratosphere can be explained almost entirely by CFC reductions fostered through the Montreal Protocol.

The authors predict that if current trends continue, the global ozone layer will return to 1980 levels sometime between 2030 and 2070 when the Antarctic ozone hole will close. 

The world has worked together to reverse the dangerous ozone hole, now let us put down our differences and work to stop global warming.                                     

                                                        Larry Schweiger

Published: May 27, 2006