Greenhouse gases or HCFCs are used in air conditioning, refrigeration, fire-fighting foam and hairsprays. These gases raise the Earth’s temperature and lead to the thinning of the ozone layer. Ozone filters ultraviolet radiation, which is associated to skin cancer and other ailments. For a number of years now negotiations were going on for the phase out of these gases in the environment.
There has been an important breakthrough in the international environment negotiation process. An agreement has been entered by nearly 200 countries in Montreal whereby a timetable has been set out for an accelerated phase-out of the chemicals in developed countries by 2020. Developed countries also have agreed to end HCFC production in 2020, instead of 2030. HCFCs originally were approved as substitutes for chlorofluorocarbons, CFCs, that were known to deplete the ozone layer back in 1987 when the Montreal Protocol came into force.
Although the ozone layer is still in poor shape, total emissions of ozone damaging chemicals have slowly declined since 1998.Countries are making special efforts to accelerate the phasing out and as committed by the head of the Sri Lanka delegation, Sri Lanka will phase out CFCs by 2008, two years ahead of their obligation under the Protocol.
The agreement is unique in that it focuses on ozone recovery and also aims to reverse climate change which is another glaring environmental problem. The Montreal ozone treaty is a model for progress on global warming and shows how industrial countries are coming forward to save the environment.
Via:Telegraph
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