The ozone layer is one of the most important aspects of our environment. It is crucial to know why we must preserve this protective layer in the atmosphere.
16th September marks the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
It was on this day, 35 years ago, that the most important environmental agreement was adopted.
It is a thin shield of gas in the Earth’s atmosphere that protects the planet, absorbing the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays.
A collection of greenhouse gases including CFCs that can be found in everyday products such as ACs and aerosol cans, have been destroying the ozone layer.
Harmful ODSs can carve a hole in the ozone layer, allowing UV rays to directly hit the Earth.
According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), thanks to the agreement, there has been a substantial reduction in ODSs emissions.
There is evidence that the ozone layer is healing itself and can recover by the middle of this century.
The Antarctic ozone hole is expected to close by the 2060s, while other regions will return to pre-1980s values even earlier
For humans, the Montreal Protocol has potentially helped to prevent up to 2 million cases of skin cancer globally each year by 2030.