Thursday 11 September 2014

Saving The Ozone Layer

In the mid 1980s, scientists noted the ozone layer which screens us from the suns damaging ultraviolet rays was so dangerously thin that holes had appeared. The blame was put on chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs, that were being increasingly used in appliances such as fridges and aerosol cans.
The World rallied and in 1989 the Montreal Protocol came into effect which banned the use of CFCs and by the mid 90s, despite opposition from some in the chemical industry, the use of CFC's were almost eliminated and now, 30 years after it was first noticed, the ozone layer is well on its way to having repaired itself and is expected to be back to full strength by the middle of the century.   
Proof that decisive international action can avert self-imposed disaster and it is the same political will that is needed to deal with the threat of climate change.
Why was it that our Governments of the 80's and 90's heard of a threat to our planet and its population and rallied around to act so decisively while the governments of today seem to come up with all manner of reasons to avoid making the cuts we need to reduce the worst effects of climate change.  
The problem it seems is the lack of political will to act which was shown in the 80s, afraid that to do something would be detrimental to corporate interests, the same people who donate so much money to Governments that it would be economically suicidal for our leaders to pass any laws that would hit their donaters profits because 30 years on from the Governments of the 80s, the main difference is that economic growth and profit tops the list of priorities before saving the planet.

3 comments:

Liber - Latin for "The Free One" said...
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Lucy said...

If you are hearing that now it's only in your head.

Liber - Latin for "The Free One" said...
This comment has been removed by the author.