CORON, Philippines – Remember the ozone layer?

Before climate change became the world’s looming catastrophe, the depletion of the ozone layer was the apocalyptic scenario. Remember the animated TV shorts depicting a gaping hole in a thin layer of atmosphere introduced to us as the ozone layer?

Remember the threat of dangerous UV rays zapping into the hole causing skin cancer and heat waves? Remember the evil chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) our aircon and refrigerators release into the atmosphere punching holes into the layer?

The good news is that humanity has done much to curb the threat of ozone depletion.

Much like how climate change is being dealt with by countries, the fight against ozone depletion reached its peak with the ratification of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer by 197 party countries – including the Philippines.

Saving the ozone layer

These countries committed to phase out all ozone depleting substances (ODS), including CFCs, halons, and methyl bromide based on a timetable that differed for developed and developing countries.

A Multilateral Fund (MLF) was created to help industries dependent on ODS (like airconditioning, refrigeration, foam companies) shift to less destructive alternative chemicals.

Specifically, the fund devoted millions and millions of dollars to give manufacturing companies the right equipment for using the alternative chemicals. Factories and service shops were taught how to properly handle and store ODS so they don’t enter the atmosphere.

Together, countries imposed quotas to reduce the number of ODS being imported. The fund also paid for public awareness campaigns to communicate the phase-out plans to people.

The Montreal Protocol came into force in 1987. The “hole” in the ozone layer was discovered in the 1970s when scientists observed a thinning of the layer above Antarctica.

From the 1970s to 1990s, the ozone layer had thinned by 70%, allowing more harmful UV rays to reach the Earth. By 2006, the thinning had grown to its largest area – 29 million square kilometers.

Achievements

But with cooperation under the Montreal Protocol, countries have been able to reduce global consumption of ODS by 97.3%, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (READ: Ozone hole over Antarctic second smallest in two decades)

The Philippines was able to stopped the importation of CFCs, the most ozone-destructive chemical, in 2010.

These achievements prompted Ella Deocadiz, Program Manager of the Philippine Ozone Desk under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, to say, “The ozone layer is on its way to recovery. If countries continue to stick to the Montreal Protocol, the ozone layer will have recovered by 2075.”

During a media workshop funded by the protocol’s fund, the Philippine Ozone Desk (POD) introduced the last phase of the Montreal Protocol – phasing out the last ODS still being used today: hydrochlorofluorocarbons or HCFCs.

HCFCs are commonly used as coolants for refrigerators, chillers, centralized airconditioning, car airconditioning, fire extinguishers, vending machines and more.

The target for complete phase-out is 2040. To do this, the POD will regulate the import of HCFCs, lower the amount of HCFCs that can be brought to the country, and ban the expansion of HCFC-using facilities.

They will also provide financial assistance to companies to help them transition into the use of less-destructive chemicals.

The POD is ready to use US$1.5 million in funds to “reward” qualified companies the equipment and technology to make the shift.

Challenges

The Montreal Protocol is recognized by many as the oldest and most successful multilateral environmental agreement. But challenges remain.

For one thing, there are no ready alternatives yet to replace HCFCs, a chemical which so many industries depend on.

Ammonia, a possible alternative, is toxic. Hydrocarbons (HCs) are ideal because they are low in global warming potential, but they are flammable. HFOs, another ozone-layer-friendly chemical, are still under patent and not commercially available.

New ozone-depleting substances are being discovered even as previously known ones are still undergoing gradual phase-out.

CFCs, HCFCs and other ozone-depleting substances continue to be traded illegally and used by manufacturers because of their low cost.

Because of this, the ozone layer continues to thin by 3% every year, according to the UNEP.

The battle to keep the ozone layer intact and the war to curb climate change are intimately linked because many ODS are also greenhouse gases, the gases that block heat from escaping the Earth and thus drive global warming.

The implementation of the Montreal Protocol has avoided the equivalent of 135 billion gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent between 1990 and 2010, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

That’s around 13% of accumulated emissions of carbon dioxide from human activities.

Because of the protocol, climate change was delayed by 7 to 12 years. It overshot the reduction target of the Kyoto Protocol’s first commitment period by 5 to 6 times.

But the effectiveness of the Montreal Protocol can contribute to the fight against climate change by serving as a model for how countries can come together and avoid a global catastrophe.

If the world can patch up the ozone layer, can it curb climate change?

Of course, it’s not that simple. Deocadiz weighs in that it’s much easier to save the ozone layer.

“It’s much more straightforward. If you stop production of ODS, you stop consumption. You can easily track ODS from purchase receipts. here are also more resources and funds going into the program,” she said.

Political will

The protocol’s funds come from developed nations like the United States and the European Union countries.

These countries are pouring in all these resources in order to protect their industries which would likely suffer from the expensive technology shift. Developed countries are also the ones manufacturing the alternatives to the most harmful ODS.

The relative success of the Montreal Protocol is heartening, and encouragement is something the world direly needs in the face of climate change.

In contrast, international climate change negotiations aren’t looking too good. Only 10 countries have made pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Green Climate Fund has been created but money is trickling in slower than the rate by which extreme weather events are devastating vulnerable countries.

At the rate the world is going, the Arctic could be iceless by 2050 and 25% of the world’s animals could become extinct. Millions of people could be displaced from the inundation of their communities due to rising sea levels.

The situation was as dire 44 years ago for the ozone layer but with political will, humanity has put it on the road to recovery.

Climate change may be much more complex, much more multi-faceted, and much more destructive, but at least we can’t say we haven’t had practice. – Rappler.com

Ozone layer image from Shutterstock