Living in a big world with big problems can make teens feel helpless. Since you aren’t old enough to vote, the world seems to revolve without you.
One of the world’s most concerning issues is climate change, and is well known for affecting the ozone layer of our atmosphere. The hole was first discovered in 1985, stretching nearly 10 million square miles across the stratosphere.
According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), research over the voids’ appearance and cause was published in the late 1970s by meteorologist Jonathan Shanklin and his colleagues Joe Farman and Brian Gardiner. Their studies suggested that the source of the cavity is linked to a human-made compound called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
These are most commonly found in aerosols and cooling devices such as refrigeration, air conditioning, aerosol propellants, and foam-blowing agents.
According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Climate Portal, when CFC is produced, they travel to the upper stratosphere where they are broken down by ultraviolet radiation, releasing chlorine atoms that destroy the ozone layer.
Two years after Shanklin’s studies were published, action was taken. The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer came into effect, the agreement was signed by the U.S and 196 other countries in 1987 and entered into force in 1989.
According to the UN Environmental Programme, “The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is a global agreement to protect the Earth’s ozone layer by phasing out the chemicals that deplete it. This phase-out plan includes both the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances.”
This agreement is still in effect. 36 years later, it’s safe to say that the plan was successful. This global fear for humanity is nearing an end. The hole is set to be fully healed within the next two decades if the plan is continuously followed.
While this protocol has been extremely successful and beneficial to the healing process, the more everyone can contribute, the faster it can return to normal.
There are quite a few simple but effective changes one can make to their daily routine to benefit the planet’s health.
One of the most easy and simple ways to save the ozone is done by the flip of a switch. Conserving energy can be done by turning off lights when they don’t need to be on, using energy-efficient appliances, and using renewable energy sources.
Energy-efficient appliances include smart thermostats, heat pump water heaters, induction cooktops, and ENERGY STAR-certified refrigerators, dishwashers, and clothes washers. Power banks, like solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, geothermal energy, and biomass energy, are renewable energy sources that could be worth looking into for your home.
Another easy way to play your part in the process is disposing chemicals properly. According to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, chemicals such as CFC hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are found in refrigerators and air conditioners, fire extinguishers, foam, aerosol propellants, and methyl bromide for fumigation of soil.
When these chemical-filled appliances and items aren’t disposed of correctly they end up in waterways and landfill, harming the environment. It is very important to follow your town and disposal guidelines.
If you are in need of disposing of any of the items or appliances that were previously listed above in the Springfield, Missouri area, visit the City of Springfield Environmental Services website. The website goes into detail about where and how you need to dispose of them. This might seem daunting, but it’s a big part of what keeps our land and air clean.
Next time you’re buying groceries, consider purchasing organic produce. There are ozone depleting pesticides called methyl bromide that can be found in the soil of most farmlands.
“Agricultural growers inject methyl bromide about two feet into the ground to sterilize the soil before crops are planted. Although the soil is covered with plastic tarps immediately after a treatment, 50 to 95 percent of the methyl bromide eventually enters the atmosphere,” United States Environmental Protection Agency said.
By purchasing these products at the store, you are supporting organic and sustainable farming practices that reduce the use of harmful chemicals and can help protect the ozone layer.
Last but not least, stay educated on international agreements and initiatives involving the ozone layer. Encourage your community and government to uphold a high standard and stick to their commitments.
In a big world, your voice and the choices you make are not small, they have long lasting effects that will remain for generations to come. Be the reason that these changes become the norms for our future. With everyone working together our stratosphere can be clean once again.
