It’s now or never for saving the ozone layer

International Day for the Preservation of Ozone Layer is celebrated every year on September 16 to commemorate the signing of Montreal Protocol. To mark this day, DNA brought together senior bureaucrats and experts, capable of bringing about the desired change in environmental policies.

On the panel were Valsa Nair, environment secretary, government of Maharashtra, Mahesh Pathak, member secretary, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Avinash Kubal, deputy director, Maharashtra Nature Park Society and Roshni Uddyavar, head of the department of environmental architecture, Rachana Sansad College of Architecture. Senior editor Ranjona Banerji moderated the discussion.

Ranjona Banerji (RB): We have been hearing many things about the ozone layer and issues associated with it. What is the magnitude of seriousness of the problem of ozone depletion?
Valsa Nair (VN): Ozone depletion is indeed a serious problem. It is directly related to skin cancer and cataract. It also causes premature ageing of the skin apart from causing damage to several parts of the eye including the lens, cornea, retina and conjunctiva.

However, the general awareness is very low. I am pessimistic as the entire onus to check ozone depletion is on the developing countries. We can not implement preventive measures till we reach a certain level of development.

Avinash Kubal (AK): For over five decades, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were thought of as miracle substances. They are highly stable, non-flammable, low in toxicity and inexpensive to produce. However, research showed that CFC was actually responsible for ozone depletion. Since the level of awareness about CFC is very low, it is the responsibility of the government and industry to stop using CFC.

RB: Is it possible to check further depletion of ozone? Why is the issue not given importance during discussions on climate change and global warming?
Mahesh Pathak (MP): Minor changes in cheap procedures can bring desired results. Ozone layer depletion can get the spotlight if it is correlated with climate change and global warming. It is high time that ozone depleting substances (ODS) were replaced by non-ozone depleting substances like Hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFC). Industries need to change only 12 items to achieve the desirable results. As per the Montreal Protocol, 2010 is India’s deadline to achieve its goal.

So, that makes 2009 a very crucial year. The intensity of the efforts put in this year would decide overall performance of the country.

RB: Being an architect, what changes in building designs would you suggest to protect the environment?
Roshni Uddyavar (RU): Considered to be a better option for ammonia, CFCs turned out to be even worse  that it. As far as checking the use of CFC is concerned, architects need to be educated. Designs with minimum use of electrical gadgets for cooling the buildings can bring down the use of air conditioners and thus control the CFC released. We must understand that facades facing east-west get more heated compared to the north-west ones.

RB: What are the effects of ozone depletion on flora and fauna?
AK: People, animals and plant life would be destroyed if we fail to protect the ozone layer. Even underwater life would not be safe since UV rays can penetrate clear water to a certain depth.
VN: The Montreal Protocol has been highly effective in protecting the ozone layer so far. Because of it, around two million cases of cataract have been prevented. A research carried out for a United Nations Environmental Programme has showed that ozone levels have stayed the same from 2002 to 2005, thanks to such initiatives. One of the greatest challenges with ozone is that we need the right amount for life to exist. Too little and life on earth could be wiped out — too much and we won’t receive the amount of sunlight that we need.

RB: When you say that minor procedural changes can help protect the ozone layer, what has been the response of the industries?
MP: It is not that there is no alternative. A minor change in the molecular structure of HCFCs can achieve the desired effect.

VN: Though the preventive measures are economical, most of the industries are not willing to implement them. The results will be seen after four decades. It is a global issue and the measures are to be taken on a local level. This makes the industries hesitant.

RU: Researchers must try to find out long term effects of HCFCs also. The Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund can be utilised for this. India being an Article 5 country is entitled to this assistance from the Fund in its efforts to phase out ODSs and switch over to non-ODS technologies.
VN: The signing of the Montreal Protocol and subsequent international agreements on ozone depleting substances has already prevented a great deal of damage. The bottom line is that ozone layer protection is an easy task but its implementation is very difficult.
RB: To conclude, the importance of protecting the ozone layer can be highlighted if we correlate it with climate change and global warming.

Coordinated by Ashwin Aghor