Protecting the ozone. [Montreal Protocol]

Journal Article · · Forum Appl. Res. Publ. Pol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6034718

Stafford, R T

The Montreal Protocol is a proposed international agreement to regulate the production and use of eight industrial chemicals (best known as Freons, the name given to them by their inventor, the Du Pont Corporation.) These chemicals are destroying the ozone shield that protects life on earth from the searing radiation of outer space. The protocol was drafted in September 1987, following two and one-half years of international negotiations. What the protocol will or will not accomplish is already the subject of heated argument throughout the world. This debate halted abruptly when scientists concluded in the winter of 1987-1988 that a massive hole through the ozone layer over Antarctica was, beyond any credible doubt, caused by Freons. The worldwide publicity that attended the discovery and the exploration of the Antarctic ozone hole added impetus to the development of the Montreal Protocol. Yet, ironically, the proposed agreement does not take into account the Antarctic hole or the chemistry that causes the runaway reaction over the South Pole each spring. To understand why requires a brief review of the short history of the ozone depletion debate which is presented here.

• OSTI ID: 6034718
• Journal Information: Forum Appl. Res. Publ. Pol.; (United States), Journal Name: Forum Appl. Res. Publ. Pol.; (United States) Vol. 3:3; ISSN FARPE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AGREEMENTS
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
FREONS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
POLLUTION ABATEMENT