Working together, we can change history
The China Post news staff, The China Post
In 1973 two chemists working at the University of California, Irvine, began studying the effects of chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs. These chemicals had been used for decades as agents in the production of Styrofoam and acted as the main refrigerants in air conditioners, refrigerators and freezers. CFCs were used in hair spray, perfumes and many more industrial and household items.
Chemists Frank Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina found that chemicals such as CFCs take an enormously long time to break down after being released into the atmosphere and that the process of how they slowly deteriorate directly contributes to the deterioration of the ozone layer. The scientific pair published their findings in 1974 and that same year testified before the United States Congress on the harmful effects of CFC related chemicals. Scientists spent over 10 years debating the findings and those who accepted the research had to fend off strong opposition to change from companies that manufactured these chemicals.
In 1985 British scientists shocked their peers with a verifiable study showing that a huge section of the ozone layer — especially over Antarctica — had essentially disappeared. By the late 1980s the debate over CFCs was over and the world began to take the depletion of the ozone layer seriously. The 1987 “Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer” laid the groundwork for successive treaties wherein close to every nation on earth agreed to phase out CFCs and other ozone destroying chemicals.
Last week 300 scientists working on a report for the U.N. confirmed that in 2010 the ozone layer has stopped disappearing and is in fact recovering. Confirming the predictions of some of the early ozone researchers, the U.N. scientists believe that by the middle of this century the once fragile ozone layer will be back to pre-1980-level strength. The scientists also reaffirmed that the reason for this positive turn is that the planet came together to phase out production and use of nearly 100 substances — including CFCs.
In other words, humankind discovered that we had created a problem, worked together, took action and changed the course of history. Today — except for a few exemptions for asthma inhalers or special fire extinguishers used on submarines — CFCs and other ozone destroying chemicals are banned and the planet is healing itself. One scientist recently claimed that because of the efforts of the international community to ban these toxic chemicals, 20 million cases of skin cancer and 130 million cases of eye cataracts have been averted. It’s an inspiring tale that demonstrates that skeptics are wrong to assume that global problems — such as climate change — are insurmountable.
None of this might have happened without the efforts of just one man. In the late 1960s UK scientist James Lovelock embarked on a partially self-funded research expedition to test levels of CFCs in the atmosphere over Ireland. Before it was understood how toxic to the environment these substances are, there seemed to be little or no need for Lovelock’s research.
A decade later, however, Lovelock’s data led Rowland and Molina to their conclusions. In recent years, the now 91-year-old Lovelock has become a maverick in the scientific community for his pessimistic views on global climate change. Lovelock essentially argues that this planet is doomed and predicts that 80 percent of humans will be lost to climate change by 2100. The story of the ozone layer, however, shows that through tenacity and unity, humanity can rise to meet a challenge.
