Banasthali - International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

“On World Ozone Day, let’s reflect on and celebrate how we came together to fix the hole in the sky. This shows that no problem is too big for us to fix.” According to UN Environment head Erik Solheim “Today the Montreal Protocol stands as an example of what we can achieve through intelligence, leadership and innovation.”

Most ozone resides high up in the atmosphere, between 10 and 40km above Earth's surface. This region is called the stratosphere and it contains about 90% of all the ozone in the atmosphere. Ozone in the stratosphere absorbs some of the Sun’s biologically harmful ultraviolet radiation. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1995 was awarded jointly to Paul J. Crutzen, Mario J. Molina (Chemical Engineer) and F. Sherwood Rowland for their work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone."

The phase-out of controlled uses of ozone depleting substances and the related reductions have not only helped protect the ozone layer for this and future generations. On 19 December 1994, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly proclaimed 16 September every year to be observed as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer to commemorate the same date in 1987, on which the Montreal Protocol on Ozone Depleting Substances - ODS was signed. The Theme for 2018 is: Keep Cool and Carry On: The Montreal Protocol.

On 16 Sep 2018, Banasthali Chemical Engineering Department faculty Mr Saurabh Joshi who teaches Environment Pollution and Control subject gave an overview of the significance of the day and invited a team of four third year BTech Chemical Engineering students Ms Pragati Sharma, Ms Srishti Saxena, Ms Ishika Singhi and Ms Purnima Kumari who shared the following thoughts.

The Montreal Protocol which was originally signed on 16 Sep 1987 and substantially amended in 1990 and 1992 stipulates that the production and consumption of compounds that deplete ozone in the stratosphere are to be phased out in a specified time period. ODS are widely used in refrigerators, air-conditioners, fire extinguishers, in dry cleaning, as solvents for cleaning electronic equipment and as agricultural fumigants.

A new study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters shows the fruits of Montreal treaty. Using data from NASA’s Aura satellite, scientists have discovered that there has been 20 percent less ozone depletion in the Antarctic since 2005. CFCs can take 50 to 100 years to disappear completely, so the progress is quite slow. It might not be until 2060, or even as late as 2080, that the ozone hole has gone completely.

The Montreal Protocol continues to regulate ozone-depleting substances and will contribute even more to the fight against global warming through its Kigali Amendment, which enters into force on 1 January 2019. This amendment is expected to avoid up to 0.5°C of global warming by the end of the century, while continuing to protect the ozone layer.

The Kigali Amendment allows the Protocol to target a reduction in the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which became widely-used substitutes for ozone-depleting substances. HFCs are powerful climate-warming gases. Countries that ratify the Kigali Amendment have committed to cutting the production and consumption of HFCs by more than 80 per cent over the next 30 years and replacing them with planet-friendly alternatives. As of now, 46 countries have ratified the Kigali Amendment.

For more details about Banasthali see http://www.banasthali.org/

About Banasthali: Established in 1935, the Institution which is also the largest fully residential women’s university in the world has played a big role in revolutionizing women’s education and empowerment in India for the last eight decades. Banasthali has scripted numerous success stories in a wide range of fields, and stands tall among the citadels of learning in India today. . Proud to be Banasthali alumni who call themselves as Banasthalites can be found in all latitudes, longitudes and altitudes in all walks of life across the globe. Banasthali has the pride of being chosen as a Faculty Development Centre under the MHRD Govt of India Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya National Mission on Teachers and Teaching (PMMMNMTT) as well as for hosting Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) by NITI Aayog. Banasthali also has Quacquarelli Symonds QS Four Star Ranking and Diamond Status.

Banasthali Vidyapith
Banasthali Rajasthan – 304022
Phone 91 1438 228456 / 228341
Email: info@banasthali.ac.in
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This release was published on openPR.