What is Ozone Layer?
The ozone layer is a region of Earth’s stratosphere that absorbs most of the Sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation that may cause skin cancer. It contains high concentrations of ozone (O3) in relation to other parts of the atmosphere. Stratospheric Ozone is not harmful, but its presence on land it is harmful.
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
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It is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out production of numerous Ozone Depleting Substances (ODSs) that are responsible for ozone depletion.
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It was agreed on 26 August 1987 in Montreal, Canada and entered into force on 26 August 1989.
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It was followed by a first meeting in Helsinki, May 1989.
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Due to its universality, this international agreement has helped in recovering the ozone hole in Antarctica.
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Under it production and consumption of key ODSs like chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs), Methyl Chloroform, CTC halons and Methyl Bromide have been phased-out globally.
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer
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It is a Multilateral Environmental Agreement that was agreed upon at the 1985 Vienna Conference and entered into force in 1988.
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It is one of the most successful treaties of all time in terms of universality.
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It has been ratified by 197 states (all UN members as well as the Niue, Holy See and the Cook Islands) as well as European Union.
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It acts as a framework for the international efforts to protect the ozone layer. These are laid out in the accompanying Montreal Protocol.
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However, it does not include legally binding reduction goals for the use of CFCs, the main chemical agents causing ozone depletion