Sydney, Australia has a great climate, but for Kobe Lee Challis, Martin Proctor and their classmates at Melrose Park Primary School, playing in the sun without protection is a risky game.

Kobe Lee and Martin know that the sun can cause skin cancer and, like all Australian schoolchildren, they have to wear hats outdoors. What they may not know is that a United Nations treaty — the 1987 Montreal Protocol — holds out hope for the recovery of the ozone layer, which protects the earth’s surface from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.

The world first learned in the early 1970s of the damage to the stratospheric ozone layer caused by the emission of chemicals know as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used in such products as refrigerators, aerosols and air-conditioners. Reduced ozone levels lead to higher levels of UV-B radiation, which causes skin cancer and has been linked to cataracts. Even small increases in UV-B levels are believed to have adverse effects on plant growth and marine ecosystems.

After the signing of the Montreal Protocol, which is administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), governments and business made giant strides in converting industries to ozone-friendly chemicals. DuPont and AT&T were among the leaders in developing alternatives, and companies such as Seiko, Epson and Nortel/Northern Telecom agreed to phase out CFCs faster than was required.

Since 1996, industrialized countries have banned production of CFCs and, in July 2000, developing countries began to freeze their use. Schedules are also in place to phase out other ozone-depleting substances.

To ensure compliance with the treaty developing countries are receiving international assistance to move to ozone-friendly technologies. UNEP’s OzoneAction Programme has played a key role and a trust fund set up under the Montreal Protocol has allocated over $1 billion to projects in 124 developing countries. For example, more than 26 million CFC-free refrigerators will be produced with the fund’s assistance.

While CFCs are starting to fade from the atmosphere, according to scientists at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, existing ozone levels are the lowest ever recorded. However, if the Montreal Protocol and its amendments are enforced, scientists predict that the ozone layer could recover in most regions of the world within the next 15 to 45 years. Then, it won’t be so dangerous for children like Kobe Lee and Martin to play in the sun.

FIND OUT MORE about how the UN works to protect our global environment and promote sustainable development. Click on the links next to the photo of Kobe Lee and Martin.

قصص أخرى عن البيئة:
جون يتعلم إدارة موارده

الصفحة الرئيسية | صفحة استقبال الأمم المتحدة | معلومات عن الأمم المتحدة تعمل | اتصل بنا | أرشيف