The ozone layer, the mantle envelops the earth and protects it from radiation, recovering after the signing of the Montreal Agreement in 1987; However, it is a problem “that has not been solved” and “will take decades to come”, which is why it is necessary to strengthen compliance with the measures contained in the document and its amendments and to accelerate the timetable.
This was explained to EFE by Greenpeace’s energy spokesman, JoséLuis García Ortega, who, as part of this Saturday’s celebration of the International Day for the Conservation of the Ozone Layer, claims that despite the signing of the Montreal Agreement, 36 years have passed. the problem of its destruction “has not been solved”, because the “most important decisions” have been made, namely the “ban on artificial ozone-depleting substances”.
Despite it, “The recovery time of the ozone layer is very long and there are still decades ahead of us“to regenerate the ozonosphere,” said the Greenpeace physicist who specializes in astrophysics.
This year the theme of the celebration is “The Montreal Treaty: Restoring the Ozone Layer and Reducing Climate Change.” According to Garcia Ortega, “has not stopped using some substances that contribute to this damaging ozone both directly and indirectly, even though its production was banned.
In May 1985, British geophysicists Joe Farman, Brian Gardiner and John Shanklin published a study that demonstrated the rapid depletion of the ozone layer in Antarctica. The scientists pointed out the chlorofluorocarbon gases (CFCs) used Refrigerants in fungicides, aerosols or cosmetics as causes of the destruction of the ozone layer in southern areas, compounds that were replaced by hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) after the signing of the Montreal Agreement.
According to García Ortega, the process is “It took a very long time for the decision to take effect worldwide“, explaining that the chemical industry also “released other substitute gases (HFCs) that also damaged ozone and were also banned, but later.”
The problem of this type of gases “is identified and They are also currently banned“, but it is a measure that “has not yet been implemented,” says the spokesman for Greenpeace Energy.
Therefore, “the ozone layer continues to be destroyed, because the consequences of what was done in the past remain and these gases continue to act” and it has an impact: “It will take many decades for the layer to fully recover.”
The paradox, claims García Ortega, is that “All of these compounds are substitutable.”what has been evident since the signing of the Montreal Agreement, a date since “alternatives have been developed”, but, he emphasizes, the problem is that “it has taken too long to act”.