What is Montreal Protocol?

Tuesday, January 24, 2012



Living in an innovating world where technology is already considered as an essential need to every people, makes it difficult to limit the usage of harmful chemicals that puts our environment as well as humanity on Earth in risk. In 2001, it was found in NASA that there are some irregularities in ozone concentrations in Antarctica. The same unexpected abnormality was also found in Halley Bay near in South Pole, having low ozone concentrations as well. There are countless unusual happenings already like this all over the country, such as experiencing climate change in various countries, discovery of diseases and other things that puts life on Earth in danger. The main antagonists in this phenomenon are the ozone-depleting substances. These substances are to be blamed for the thinning of our stratospheric ozone layer, which absorbs all the UV-B rays coming from the sun. Unfortunately, because of the continuous production of these harmful chemicals, we are now experiencing such negative effects brought by the UV-B rays.


Through an international agreement called Montreal Protocol, the utilization of every harmful compounds that depletes the stratospheric ozone layer such as CFCs, helons, methyl chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride, became restrained worldwide. Some major chemical producers were against it but a part of the objectives of the Montreal Protocol is to search and construct ozone-friendly alternatives that will substitute these harmful greenhouses gases with the same quality it provides to it. Montreal Protocol was a big success to those organizations who advocates in saving and preserving the environment. Evidently, there are good effects and changes discovered such as the noticeably recovery of the stratospheric ozone layer. The substitutes to the ozone-depleting substances have given positive effects as well to the different technical sectors.


Ratified by several countries, Montreal became a successful and an effective solution in the depletion of the ozone layer. There is a high tendency that the health and wellness of everyone as well as the environment will be protected. Continuous production and utilization of the harmful substances are expected to be phased out in the later years thus, people are anticipating to more beneficial developments and changes in our environment. The continuous cooperation of every people will affirmatively help in constructing a developed and preserved environment for the benefit of the future.


-Mercado, Rangelo 2012

5 comments:

  1. The main reason the CFCs reduction program was a success is because there was no place to hide, AND it had an inexpensive solution.

    It involved changing the old refrigerant chemicals to already-existing new refrigerant chemicals, plus some minor redesign of the compressor of the AC units. To compare this with what would be required to "solve" GW is off-the-charts unrealistic.

    Spending time on the golf course, or on the ski slopes, or on a yacht, at the country club swimming pool, etc., would expose a person to cancer due to a depleted ozone layer. It had become a lifestyle-affecting problem in Australia.

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  2. Good to know that the Montreal Protocol has been a good solution to the depletion of the ozone layer as well as the reduction of the bad effects of the depleted ozone layer to humanity. In this manner, future generations will still have a wonderful place to live in. But the hope for this "wonderful" place for the future generation will not depend solely on the international agreement, the Montreal Protocol, but also on us, present people. We also need to do our jobs as the caretakers of Mother Earth by simply following the guidelines of Montreal Protocol like the avoidance of using harmful chemicals that may contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. :)

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  3. Very pleased to hear about the montreal protocol. Our ozone layer is being destroyed by our carelessness and selfishness. This will slowly restore the stability in our environment that we once had, and somehow be able to save our future generation. They deserve good health, stable climate, protection and wellness. Even though results may be seen in a span of years, it's still a worthwhile investment.

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  4. Montreal Protocol was said to be the most successful worldwide act, being able to actually produce results.

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