APES 9.2 Reducing Ozone Depletion

Montreal Protocol and Its Success

• International response to ozone depletion culminated in the Montreal Protocol signed in 1987, aimed at reducing CFC production and consumption.

• More than 180 nations have ratified the agreement.

• Success Achievements:

  • Original goal was to reduce CFC output; amended goal aimed to eliminate CFC production by 1996, successfully achieved by most countries.

• Long-Lasting Effects:

  • CFCs linger in the atmosphere for years, causing a delay in observing improvements in the ozone layer.

• The protocol also targeted 95 other ozone-depleting substances.

Transition to Alternatives

• New chemicals like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) were developed to replace CFCs. HFCs do not react with ozone but are known greenhouse gases, necessitating future consideration of environmental impacts.