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Claim 1: The ‘ozone hole’ was a hoax. There was no scientific evidence that chlorofluorocarbon or CFC emissions were thinning the ozone layer. While CFCs can ‘destroy’ ozone (valid chemistry work that won a Nobel prize), in the actual atmosphere, the ozone quickly reforms. Moreover, the claimed ‘hole’ (actually just a localized thinning over the Antarctic) had no discernible effect on Earth.
Fact 1: Scientific evidence shows CFCs thin the ozone layer. The chemistry behind CFC destruction of ozone is well understood and proven. Decades of data from satellites and ground stations document the shrinking ozone layer and its correlation with CFC emissions.
Claim 2: The purpose of the Montreal Protocol was not to ‘repair’ the ‘ozone hole’ but to produce the first global treaty on the environment. It was subsequently used as a precedent for the 1992 UN climate treaty that ushered in the climate hoax.
Fact 2: The Montreal Protocol is a successful environmental treaty. CFC production and use have been dramatically reduced, with a measurable ozone layer recovery.
Claim Post:
What does the post say
In his viral X post, Steve Milloy claims the science behind the ozone hole is wrong. He argues that the science behind the ozone hole is wrong, claiming that CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) don’t deplete the ozone layer, and the “hole” itself has no impact. Milloy suggests the Montreal Protocol, a landmark environmental treaty, wasn’t about protecting the ozone layer. He claims it was a ploy to create the first global environmental treaty, paving the way for a supposed “climate hoax.”
What we found
Milloy’s claims are false and misleading, lacking scientific support. Reputable sources such as the American Chemical Society and the US Environmental Protection Agency affirm the correlation between CFCs and ozone depletion. The emergence of the ozone hole acted as a global wake-up call regarding the atmospheric impact of human activities. Scientists found that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), durable chemicals used in refrigeration and aerosol products since the 1930s, exhibited harmful properties. While CFCs persisted in the troposphere without degradation, upon reaching the stratosphere, they transformed. Exposed to ultraviolet light in the upper stratosphere, CFCs broke down, releasing chlorine—an extremely reactive atom that triggered ozone depletion.
The worldwide recognition of CFCs’ detrimental effects prompted the enactment of the Montreal Protocol in 1987, a treaty aimed at phasing out the production of ozone-depleting substances. Its success in mitigating ozone depletion is well-documented.
Regarding the articles Steve referenced, the first is from a blog known for promoting climate change misinformation. The second is an obituary for Richard Benedick, a diplomat involved in Montreal Protocol negotiations, which may not directly address ozone depletion or the treaty’s purpose. However, the relevance of these articles to the social media user’s claims is questionable, as they fail to support the arguments presented in the tweet.
Ozone Layer Depletion: Health and Environmental Impacts
Damage to the ozone layer has diverse repercussions. Ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) can puncture the ozone layer, enabling direct exposure to UV rays on Earth. Prolonged UV radiation exposure poses risks to human health, including skin cancer and eye diseases, while also adversely affecting animals, plants, and microbes. Additionally, many ODSs act as potent greenhouse gasses, exacerbating climate change by accumulating in the atmosphere and trapping heat.
Human Impact:
Ozone layer depletion leads to heightened UVB exposure on Earth’s surface. Research, both in laboratories and epidemiological studies, indicates that UVB exposure is linked to non-melanoma skin cancer and is a significant contributor to the development of malignant melanoma. Furthermore, UVB exposure has been associated with cataract formation, causing clouding of the eye’s lens.
Impact on Plant Life:
UVB radiation influences the physiological and developmental processes of plants. Despite mechanisms to mitigate or repair these effects and the ability of plants to adapt to increased UVB levels, direct exposure to UVB radiation can hinder plant growth.
Effects on Marine Ecosystems:
Phytoplankton serve as the cornerstone of aquatic food webs, with productivity confined to the euphotic zone—the upper layer of the water column where sunlight sustains net productivity. Exposure to solar UVB radiation disrupts the orientation and motility of phytoplankton, leading to diminished survival rates. Scientists have observed a direct decline in phytoplankton production due to ozone depletion-induced increases in UVB.
UVB radiation also harms the early developmental stages of various marine animals, including fish, shrimp, crabs, and amphibians. The most severe consequences include reduced reproductive capacity and impaired larval development. Even slight increments in UVB exposure could lead to population declines among tiny marine organisms, posing implications for the entire aquatic food chain.
Crisis averted: Montreal Protocol, Kigali Amendment
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer represents a landmark multilateral environmental agreement aimed at regulating the production and consumption of nearly 100 artificial chemicals known as ozone-depleting substances (ODS). These substances, when released into the atmosphere, pose a threat to the stratospheric ozone layer, Earth’s protective shield safeguarding humans and the environment from harmful levels of ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun. Adopted on 16 September 1987, the Protocol stands as one of the rare treaties to achieve universal ratification.
The Montreal Protocol entails a phased reduction in the consumption and production of various ODS, implemented in a stepwise manner with distinct timetables for developed and developing countries, the latter being commonly referred to as “Article 5 countries”. Under this treaty, all participating nations are assigned specific responsibilities for the gradual phase-out of different groups of ODS, regulation of ODS trade, annual submission of data, the establishment of national licensing systems to oversee ODS imports and exports, and other relevant matters. Although developed and developing nations bear equal but differentiated responsibilities, the crux lies in their commitment to adhering to binding, time-targeted, and measurable obligations. The treaty, ratified in 1989 following its adoption in 1987, stands as one of the globe’s most triumphant environmental pacts. “Thanks to this global accord, humanity has successfully sidestepped a significant health crisis caused by ultraviolet radiation penetrating a substantial gap in the ozone layer,” remarked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
In 2016, the Kigali Amendment expanded the Protocol’s scope to include the cessation of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), initially considered substitutes for ODSs but subsequently recognized as more potent than carbon dioxide, posing a threat to the climate.
According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the agreement has led to a significant reduction in ODS emissions over the past two decades, with signs indicating the ozone layer’s self-healing capacity, poised for full recovery by the mid-21st century. Projections suggest closure of the Antarctic ozone hole by the 2060s, with other regions reverting to pre-1980s levels even sooner. Presently, nearly 99 percent of ODSs have been phased out.
References:
https://www.epa.gov/ozone-layer-protection
https://www.epa.gov/ozone-layer-protection/health-and-environmental-effects-ozone-layer-depletion
https://press.un.org/en/2022/sgsm21447.doc.htm
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/thirty-years-what-montreal-protocol-doing-protect-ozone
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