According to experts, our planet, the earth is as complex as other planets. However, it stands out as the only planet with humans as astronauts continue the search for life in others. To protect the lives on earth, the ozone layer comes handy.
The ozone layer is a layer in earth’s atmosphere that absorbs most of the Sun’s radiation.
“It contains relatively high concentrations of ozone, although it is still very small with regard to ordinary oxygen. Ozone is a gas made up of three oxygen atoms (O3).
“It occurs naturally in small amounts in the upper atmosphere (the stratosphere). Ozone protects life on Earth from the Sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation”, says (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) of the U.S.
Similarly, the National Geographic Society also say the ozone layer is a thin part of the earth`s atmosphere that absorbs almost all of the sun`s harmful ultraviolet light.
The ozone layer is therefore critical to human survival and the continued existence of other lives on earth.
However, in recent years, there have been concerns over the impact of human activities on this vital structure, as experts say it has continued to wane, resulting in adverse climate change and its attendant consequences.
Some of the consequences of climate change include drying lakes, flooding, famine, heat-waves resulting in wildfires and deforestation.
Worried by this development, the UN General Assembly, designated Sept. 16, as International Day for Preservation of the Ozone Layer as part of the efforts to raise awareness on the relationship between the ozone layer and climate change.
All member states of the UN including Nigeria are signatories to the Montreal Protocol on the control of substances that deplete the ozone layer.
Over the years, the Montreal Protocol has continued to provide a platform for more than 198 countries to work together to phase out Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS), thus protecting the Ozone Layer.
Given the global implications of ozone layer depletion, experts say that it is imperative the government, individuals and corporate bodies pool their resources to address the challenge.
The Minister of Environment, Mr Mohammed Abdullahi, said Nigeria is committed to partnering other stakeholders to mitigate the impact of ozone layer depletion and fight back to save the earth.
He said Nigeria has stepped up the campaign against indiscriminate use of man-made chemicals, the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) as part of its contributions to protect the climate.
The chemicals include, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used as refrigerants and cooling agents in air conditioners and in the manufacture of foams used for firefighting, among others.
According to him, Nigeria has signed the Montreal Protocol in 1988 and subsequently ratified all its related amendments.
The minister said that Nigeria also ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Protocol relating to Hydrofluorocarbons, which include gases with high global warming potential, used as cooling agents in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector.
“In line with the Protocol’s ODS phase-out schedule, we have assisted over 700 large, small and medium scale enterprises in the foam, refrigeration and air conditioning, aerosols, solvent sectors to convert to ozone friendly substances and technologies,’’ he said.
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Abdullahi said that the commitment has resulted in 100 per cent phase out of over 4000 Metric Tonnes of ODSs, with high Ozone Depletion Potential.
He said about 26 institutions, polytechnics and Technical Colleges, were identified and equipped to serve as training centers on good refrigeration practices.
“We have also trained more than 850 chemical regulatory and enforcement officers on identification of Ozone Depleting Substances, to ensure their effective control and provided the relevant agencies with ODSs refrigerants identifiers.
“These and other ODSs phase-out activities were achieved with support from the Multilateral Fund (MLF) for effective implementation of the Montreal Protocol”, he said.
Being a global challenge, the efforts to address ozone layer depletion will not yield expected results without a global approach and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) is providing leadership drive.
As explained by Mr Jean Bakole, the Country Representative and Regional Director, UNIDO the organization is the UN agency with a mandate to promote inclusive and sustainable industrial development.
“UNIDO has partnered well with the Nigerian government through the leadership of the National Ozone Office to carry out several ozone protection activities.
“Currently, our component of the implementation of stage two of the Hydroflurocarbon Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP), is coming to an end.
“Also, we are in the submission stage of the HPMP which is the stage three and the objective of the HPMP is to reduce 80.4 ODP tonnes,’’ Bakole said at an event to mark this year’s edition of International Day for Preservation of the Ozone Layer.
Bakole assured the Federal Government that UNIDO would continue its commitment toward promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation development without compromising standards.
Meanwhile, The National Coordinator, Global Environmental Facility (GEF), Mr Ibironke Olubamise, has advised the Federal Government to enforce National Environmental Regulation (Ozone Layer Protection Act 2007).
The Act prohibits: the sale, import or export or of products containing ozone-depleting substances.
The Act also provides for the phasing-out and packaging and labeling of ozone-depleting substances and define powers of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency.
Olubamise said the government has to demonstrate enough political will to confront challenges militating against the ozone layer in the country, including those exporting ozone layer depleting materials to developing nations.
“This is most important, especially for the developing countries which have become the dumping ground for some of the products that contain ozone depleting substances, which industrialised countries have banned.
The National President, Society for the Promotion of People`s Right an (NGO), Mr Williams Osaze, urged extensive campaign to create awareness on the need for the populace to support efforts to address ozone layer depletion.
“Individuals can reduce the use of ozone depleting substances such as fire extinguishers with halogenated hydrocarbons as the main ingredient; highly pressurised aerosol products.
“People should check the components of these products and refuse to patronise those which contain hydro fluorocarbon and other ozone depleting substances’’, he said. (NANFeature).
