Montreal Protocol: Highlights and Success

Montreal Protocol is related to the most successful multilateral agreement globally recognized to fight climate change. The Montreal Protocol has gathered countries and encouraged them against the deleterious effects of human activity on earth, by protecting ozone shields. The main goal was to save mankind from the hazardous effects of UV radiation. 

• The Montreal protocol agreement year was 1987, and significant amendments were made in 1990 and 1992.
• Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroform are among the substances that the Montreal Protocol mandates be phased out of manufacturing and use by the year 2000 (2005 for methyl chloroform).
• According to scientific theory and data, these chemicals have the potential to drastically reduce the stratospheric ozone layer, which protects the earth from harmful UV-B radiation, once they are released into the atmosphere.
• The Montreal Protocol Handbook, created by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), gives more information and an explanation of the regulations.

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What is Montreal Protocol? 

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On the 16th of December 1987 Montreal Protocol was signed and in 1994 it was declared as International day for prevention of ozone layer.

1. These Scientific Discoveries during the 1970s and 1980s triggered international discussions and concerns on the observed unpleasant effect on the Ozone layer along with the possibility of ozone hole formation.
2. US, Canada, Sweden, and Norway took voluntary action in 1978 due to shocking discoveries after research published by Frank Rowland and Mario J Moulin in 1974 and banned the use of CFCs despite being harsh resistance from industrial sectors
3. Later Discoveries by the British Antarctic Survey and NASA in 1985, satellite images of the Ozone hole were observed over the Antarctic region; various countries signed the Vienna convention of protection of the ozone layer under the Montreal protocol.
4. Montreal protocol entered into force in 1989. Various Targets and deadlines were set to phase out the use of ODSs. Many revisions have been made in phase-out schedules, member countries, and new ODSs were identified.
5. Under the Vienna convention (1985) for the protection of the ozone layer, this major concern of ozone layer depletion was Globally recognized. and ratified by 197 countries finally in 2015 to discontinue the practice and slowly get rid of ODSs. and it was the most successful environmental protection Multilateral Agreement ever.

UV Rays 

These are the non-ionized solar radiations in the ultraviolet range. Apart from creating essential Vitamin D for living organisms it also creates harmful effects on them.

• UV radiations ranging from 100 nm to 315 nm are classified into UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C based on their wavelengths.
• When a photon of UV radiation hits directly on human skin or eye, it gets absorbed in the DNA and proteins.
• Due to the high energy of radiation, it can cause serious DNA damage or alteration, resulting in mutation and even weakening the immune system.

Harmful Effects of UV Rays

A few harmul effects of UV rays are below mentioned-- 

Skin 

• Aging/ damage of skin cells 
• Formation of various types of Skin cancer
• Sunburns due to prolonged UV exposure.

Eye 

• Permanent damage to Cornea
• Snow Blindness (Cornea in the human eye if absorbs UV-B)
• Inflammation of cornea 
• Cataract etc.

Apart from being the reason behind life on earth the sun would have been a reason behind disaster on earth if UV rays would have reached the earth’s surface. But apparently, We have a natural shield around the troposphere that filters out harmful UV radiation within itself and minimizes the exposure of living organisms to harmful solar radiation by absorbing it at the stratosphere and avoids the possibility of getting adversely affected by it.

Ozone and Ozone Layer

The ozone layer in the earth’s stratosphere with a large concentration of ozone. It acts as a shield over the earth. Ozone (O₃) is a chemical bond of three oxygen atoms normally found in the earth’s stratosphere(20-25 km above sea level) and is rarely found in air molecules in the atmosphere. (Note- only 3 molecules in every 10 million air molecules)

• The ozone Layer completely absorbs almost 97-99% of solar ultraviolet radiation and filter-out the non-harmful UV rays from passing through it.
• UV rays with wavelength above UV-B damages DNA and have hazardous effects.
• Ultraviolet radiations and their effect on the ozone layer.

1. UV-A - Not absorbed by the ozone layer.
2. UV-B - Mostly absorbed, but a very less percentage of total radiation reaches the surface.
3. UV-C – Completely absorbed by ozone layer and atmosphere.

• Due to absorption of high wavelength waves oxygen molecule undergoes continuous production and degradation of ozone molecules and molecular oxygen, this maintains the ozone layer thickness.
• The thickness of the Ozone layer - In a column of air from the ground to the top of the atmosphere, the thickness of the Ozone layer is measured in terms of the Dobson unit (DU).

Ozone Layer Formation

Ozone Depletion Process

When UV radiations (range 180-240 nanometers) come in contact with molecular oxygen it breaks down the structure into oxygen atoms, which further results in a combination of unattached triplets of oxygen to form ozone.

• Solar radiations of wavelength (290-300nm) are absorbed by ozone ultimately breaking down into molecular oxygen again.
• This formation and degradation of oxygen atoms maintain a high concentration of ozone, forming a layer named the ozone layer.
• Researches and Scientific Discoveries during the mid-1970s showed that the chemical products used in AC, refrigerators, and aerosol cans were adversely affecting the Ozone layer in the Stratosphere.
• These Substances/chemical compounds, identified as ODSs(Ozone-depleting substances) if exposed open to the atmosphere in the lower atmosphere are responsible for the depletion of ozone.
• Later in 1985, a large surface area of the Ozone layer over Antarctica was observed with unusually less thickness, and it was unable to restrict hazardous UV radiation from entering the earth’s atmosphere.

Ozone

Ozone Depletion

Specific chemical compounds(ODSs) in the form of gas or vapor travels from the lower atmosphere to the top of the stratosphere where it reacts with UV rays to degrade ozone to molecular oxygen. Other inhuman activities cause depletion of volcanic eruptions, stratospheric winds, and sunspots. These activities altogether total up to less than 2% of total ozone depletion.

Ozone Depleting Substances/Chemicals (ODSs)

The substances/chemical compounds that if exposed open to the atmosphere in the lower atmosphere are responsible for the depletion of ozone. The ODSs identified during research are—

• Halons,
• Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl₄),
• Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC),
• Hydrobromofluorocarbons (HBFC),
• Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC)
• Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC),
• Bromomethane (Ch₃Br)
• Bromochloromethane (CH₂BrCl)

ODSs are generally used as—

• HCFCs and CFCs in refrigerators, foam, or aerosol propellant.
• HCFCs and Halons are used in Fire extinguishers, etc.

Effects of Ozone Depletion

A few effects of ozone hole depletion are— 

• The emission of CFCs and HCFCs constitutes a significant amount of the total emission of ODSs in the atmosphere.
• CFCs emitted in the lower atmosphere move upward to the stratosphere.
• Due to the action of UltraViolet solar radiations on CFCs, Cl is released as the product of the reaction.
• Chlorine speeds up the degradation of Ozone into molecular oxygen and acts as a catalyst.
• Chlorine atom (cl) does not even take part in the reaction but its presence only speeds up the process of degradation causing permanent and continuing effects.
• As the production of ozone is limited but degradation speeds up the balance between production and degradation of ozone gets disturbed and speedy depletion of layer takes place.
• This causes the Ozone layer to gradually lose its thickness which results in hazardous effects on life on earth.
• A large area of thin ozone layer formed at stratosphere is also termed as “Ozone Hole”.

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Montreal Protocol Highlights 

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Important points regarding this proposed protocal are— 

• The Montreal Protocol was agreed to encourage against deleterious effects of human activity on earth protecting ozone shields. 
• Efforts were made to phase out production and regulate export-import, consumption, and controlling ODS trade, ultimately reducing the concentration of ODSs in a stepwise time-bound process.
• Different roles and responsibilities were assigned to developed and developing countries with specific accountable commitments under the protocol.
• Provisions are provided for the revision of adjustments as per the latest discoveries and technological improvements.
• Meetings are being scheduled once every year between strategic governance body and technical staff which is being aided by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) - Nairobi
• Multilateral funds - Under article-10 developed countries decided to assist developing countries in the field of expertise, technologies, and Financial means
• The activities of the Fund are implemented by four bodies:
  1. UNEP
  2. UN Development Programme (UNDP)
  3. UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)
  4. World Bank
• Provisions related to protocol

1. Article 2 - Control Measures, 
2. Article 3 - Calculation of control levels
3. Article 4 - Control of trade with non-Partie
4. Article 5 - Special situation of developing countries
5. Article 7 - Reporting of data
6. Article 8 - Non-compliance 
7. Article 10 -Technical assistance as well as other topics. 

• The substances controlled by the treaty are

1. Annexes A - CFCs, halons
2. Annexes B - Other fully halogenated CFCs, carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform
3. Annexes C - HCFCs
4. Annexes E - Methyl bromide 
5. Annexes F - HFCs.

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Success of Montreal Protocol 

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The first step of the success of the Montreal protocol was marked as it was ratified by all the countries. Another major parameter of success was preventing over 280 million people from hazardous effects of UV rays causing skin cancer and over 1.5 million skin cancer deaths.

• If the terms of the Montreal Protocol is followed as directed it is expected that the ozone layer will recover and return to the pre-1980s level by the middle of this century and the hole will recover by the 2060s
• A clear positive impact was marked by the statistical analysis from 2010 in the stratospheric ozone layer.
• ODSs composition in the atmosphere was found significantly low as 98% of ODDs have been eradicated from the atmosphere and the traces of ozone layer recovery has also been recorded and it’s expected to fully recover by 2050.
• The latest Kiglagi amendment has helped to reduce HFCs emission, ultimately reducing the rate of global temperature rise.
• Whereas multiple studies have proved that the implementation of the Montreal protocol also has a significant effect on surface climate change
• According to analytical data from 1990 to 2010, implementation of this protocol has assisted to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions also from 135 gigatons equivalent of Carbon Dioxide.

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Montreal Protocol and India 

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India signed the Montreal Protocol in the year 1992.

• India is referred to as an Article 5 country which makes it eligible to seek assistance from the Multilateral Fund in its fight to eradicate ODSs and move towards non ODSs technologies.
• India primarily used seven types of substances controlled by Protocol out of twenty which includes CFC-11, CFC113, CFC-12, Halon-1211, Carbon tetrachloride, Methyl Bromide and Methyl Chloroform. 
• The Montreal Protocol comes under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change in India.
• In order to implement the Protocol the ministry has built an Ozone Cell.
• According to the National Strategy for ODSs phaseout the Ministry has passed a Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rule 2000. 

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Things to Remember

• UV radiations have harmful effects on life on earth in the ozone layer, formed by a triplicate of oxygen molecules.
• Continuous formation and degradation of ozone molecules are very important for the maintenance of ozone layer thickness.
• Due to the effect of harmful chemicals used in refrigerators, AC, etc. the depletion of the ozone layer can be caused.
• This depletion happens by the formation of chlorine atoms due to absorption of the high wavelength ozone layer.
• Discoveries during the mid-1970s triggered the need for the Montreal protocol which was globally ratified by all countries.
• Mojar restrictions were developed for developing and developed countries for the production, use, import, and emission of ozone-depleting substances (ODSs).
• The Montreal protocol was evidently successful in reduction of ODSs concentration in the atmosphere and ozone layer recovery.
• It is expected that by the mid of this century ozone layer will be recovered, greenhouse gas concentration and global surface temperature fall.