“No generation has a free hold on this earth. All we have is a life tenancy with a full repairing lease.” Margaret Thatcher
Life here on earth changes because there are problems regarding the environment such as deforestation, climate change, pollution, endangered species and of course the depletion of the ozone layer.
The ozone layer protects the earth from the harmful rays of the sun. It does not only protect humans but also animals and plants from the ultraviolet rays. The ozone layer is located at the most top of stratosphere because it absorbs the rays of the sun, but in the early-80’s scientists discovered a hole in Antartica which is growing every year, if this hole will not be fixed icebergs will melt and it will affect animals living there and also countries nearby.
What are the causes of ozone layer depletion? There is the natural cause which is the volcano eruptions and there are the man-made causes such as the excessive use of those things and appliances that emits CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) and CO (Carbon Dioxide). These are coolants such as air conditioners and refrigerators, electronic cleaning agents, fire extinguishers and foam blowing.
What are the effects of ozone layer depletion? Once the UV rays reaches the earth it can cause skin cancer. There are also researches showing that there will be an increase in malaria and other infectious diseases. Plants and animals will also be affected. Their life cycles will change such as those migratory animals, as for the plants; there will be disruptions to the food chain. The oceans will have the biggest effect of all, planktons will not survive and thus other animals above the planktons will die of starvation. Wind patterns could change.
Amidst the effects of decreased ozone layer there are still people who care about and find ways and solutions to the problem. They made effort, even though it would be hard and long. The first one that was agreed upon was The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer on 1985. This contains just the framework or summary to protect the ozone but it does not include the reducing of products that emits CFCs thus creating the Montreal Protocol on Substance that Deplete Ozone Layer on 1987. This is an international agreement where 30 nations agreed worldwide to reduce the usage of CFCs. Some environmentalists of today commented that the protocol “did a little and it’s too late,” so in the year 2000’s, twelve nations in Europe agreed to totally ban the usage and production of products emitting CFCs.
There are always ways to solve environmental problems what matters most is helping each other for a better and clean planet earth to live in.
http://library.thinkquest.org/26026/Environmental_Problems/ozone_depletion.html
