NationStates Jolt Archive

About ten years ago, it seemed like any debate about environmental issues was sure to include some reference to the thinning of the ozone layer, but those days have passed. In spite of the fact that environmentalism (and climate change in particular) has been a hot topic in the past couple years, I personally can't think of a single time I heard anyone mention the ozone layer in that time.

So what happened? Did it turn out that ozone depletion was not as serious as was once thought? Have other environmental issues simply overshadowed it? Have there been policy decisions that successfully slowed or halted ozone depletion, thus making it an issue of little concern?

I tried googling "Ozone layer" and the first site to come up (http://www.atm.ch.cam.ac.uk/tour/) mostly made references to research done in the nineties.

The total ban of CFCs meant that all had been done that was possible. Now we just have to wait for the CFCs still in the atmosphere to leave (It'll take around 50 years), and the ozone layer will recover.

About ten years ago, it seemed like any debate about environmental issues was sure to include some reference to the thinning of the ozone layer, but those days have passed. In spite of the fact that environmentalism (and climate change in particular) has been a hot topic in the past couple years, I personally can't think of a single time I heard anyone mention the ozone layer in that time.

So what happened? Did it turn out that ozone depletion was not as serious as was once thought? Have other environmental issues simply overshadowed it? Have there been policy decisions that successfully slowed or halted ozone depletion, thus making it an issue of little concern?

CFCs, the big thing that destroys the ozone layer, were banned. Nothing really more to be done.

In spite of the fact that environmentalism (and climate change in particular) has been a hot topic in the past couple years, I personally can't think of a single time I heard anyone mention the ozone layer in that time.
Speak for yourself. Fiddlebottoms has spent the last 7 years petitioning to have his High School (and then college) close in celebration of World Ozone Day (that's September 16th, to you heathens).

Dear Jim,

Can you fix it for me to fix the hole in the Ozone Layer?

I don't know about you, but I hear about it from time to time. Especially around easter, when people start to return to sitting in the sun - too often without sunblock.

But the Montreal protocol seems to be working...

You should check out the United Nations Environment Programme sponsored series of reports on the scientific assessment of ozone depletion, the most recent of which is from 2006. Or the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change summary from 2005.

The last time I heard it was around the same time people were talking about acid rain. I have not heard about acid rain in a long time either.

The last time I heard it was around the same time people were talking about acid rain. I have not heard about acid rain in a long time either.

I haven't worried about it since I left one of the smoggiest cities in the US. Not much acid rain out here in the countryside.

The last time I heard it was around the same time people were talking about acid rain. I have not heard about acid rain in a long time either.

That's because a lot has been done. Like the Sulphur Emissions Reduction Protocol and Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution... In the US alone the EPA has set a goal of 50% reduction by 2010, and the goal seems to be reachable.

Press Release
Environmental Protection Agency
EPA Newsroom
November 19, 2002

Report Highlights Continued Success of Acid Rain Emissions Trading Program, Basis of Proposed Clear Skies Act

Illustrating a dramatic victory for the environment and for public health, EPA Administrator Christie Whitman today announced the release of a report further documenting ongoing trends of significantly reduced emissions stemming from the Agency's Acid Rain Program, the successful emissions trading program on which President Bush's Clear Skies Act is modeled.

The latest data available in the report confirm major reductions nationwide in two acid rain-causing emissions, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

"The Acid Rain Program has been an enormous success story in America's efforts to ensure that emissions reductions go hand-in-hand with economic well being. This program has delivered cleaner air faster and with less expense than anybody anticipated," said Whitman. "This is good news for everybody who cares about clean air and is further evidence that President Bush's Clear Skies Act would deliver significant further reductions and environmental results. Cleaner air means fewer Americans will suffer from respiratory-related illnesses such as asthma, lung disease and heart disease."

The Acid Rain Program, based on an innovative market-based, cap-and-trade approach to achieving emissions reductions from the electric power industry, uses emission-rate requirements to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), and has set a permanent cap requiring a 50 percent reduction from 1980 emission levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2) by 2010. The most recent data, available in the Acid Rain Program 2001 Progress Report, confirm that emission reductions of SO2 and NOx under the program have been significant.

The Acid Rain Program, created as part of the 1990 reauthorization of the Clean Air Act signed by President George H.W. Bush, set a goal of reducing annual SO2 emissions by 10 million tons below 1980 levels. To achieve these reductions, the law required a two-phase tightening of the restrictions placed on fossil fuel-fired power plants.

Sulfur-dioxide emissions from power plants in 2001 were 10.6 million tons, a full one-third reduction from 1990 emissions, a five percent reduction from 2000 emissions and down from 17.3 million tons in 1980. Nitrogen- oxide emissions from power plants also continued a downward trend of 4.1 million tons in 2001, a 25 percent decline from 1990 emissions levels and an eight percent reduction from 2000 emissions. These emissions reductions have contributed to measurable improvements in air quality, reductions in deposition, and recovery of acid-sensitive waters. The trading component of the SO2 program has significantly lowered the costs of compliance and has not resulted in any significant geographic shifts in emissions.

The cap-and-trade model utilized in the Acid Rain Program has been so successful that it has served as the model for numerous subsequent efforts to significantly reduce air emissions, most notably President George W. Bush's proposed Clear Skies Act. If enacted by Congress, the Clear Skies Act, once implemented, would reduce and cap emissions of SO2, Nox, and mercury from power generation by an additional 70 percent beyond year 2000 emission levels.

The Clear Skies Act is a simple, straightforward plan that would utilize the proven, effective cap and trade approach to improve air quality across the country.
http://canberra.usembassy.gov/hyper/2002/1125/epf111.htm

See, the thing is, when people act you get results...

yep. Ozone hole still there in the Arctic winter, but not growing and some years getting smaller. Shows you what can happen when scientists agree and huge corporations don't spend billions convincing people there's doubt when there is none.

I'm not really amazed that this thread has crept up. It's easy to deny that there was once a problem once many steps have been taken to correct it. We're silly creatures with faulty memories.

I'm not really amazed that this thread has crept up. It's easy to deny that there was once a problem once many steps have been taken to correct it. We're silly creatures with faulty memories.

I believe ozone denial is a crime in Germany.

Dear Jim,

Can you fix it for me to fix the hole in the Ozone Layer?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/vonbek/lol.gif

Class...utter class...I had forgotten about Mr Saville...

I believe ozone denial is a crime in Germany.

As is wearing 'Yay, CFC!' armbands. Good thinking on the part of the Germans.

The last time I heard it was around the same time people were talking about acid rain. I have not heard about acid rain in a long time either.
In seriousness, part of the reason that acid rain and ozone issues don't get a lot of coverage is that the story remains more or less the same over time. In this epoch, major news sources only work on developing news items that are likely to involve sudden revelations that will attract and maintain audience attention, like Anna Nicole Smith's baby or who Don Imus has offended most recently.
On the other hand, a story headlined "Ozone Layer still there, scientists say" or "Acid rain, it still happens and boy does it suck" is hardly going to impress the masses, and are likely to alienate certain corporate financiers.

I propose a new awareness campaign based on firing high power UV lights at unsuspecting deodorant sprayers

not that I don't use deodorant of course...

The last time I heard it was around the same time people were talking about acid rain. I have not heard about acid rain in a long time either.

Then you aren't paying attention. It's the same problem that results in mercury in our drinking water and fish.

In seriousness, part of the reason that acid rain and ozone issues don't get a lot of coverage is that the story remains more or less the same over time. In this epoch, major news sources only work on developing news items that are likely to involve sudden revelations that will attract and maintain audience attention, like Anna Nicole Smith's baby or who Don Imus has offended most recently.
On the other hand, a story headlined "Ozone Layer still there, scientists say" or "Acid rain, it still happens and boy does it suck" is hardly going to impress the masses, and are likely to alienate certain corporate financiers.

So I shouldn't wait to hear back about my op-ed submission to the New York Times entitled "Moon, Still White and Shiny?"

I always wondered if they could take all the ozone pollution and put it up there...

yep. Ozone hole still there in the Arctic winter, but not growing and some years getting smaller. Shows you what can happen when scientists agree and huge corporations don't spend billions convincing people there's doubt when there is none.


:eek: