The Ozone Hole

In the mid 1970s scientists found that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) originally thought to be a safe chemical which was widely used in refrigerators and spray cans was leading to the depletion of the thin protective layer of ozone over the planet.

In an uncharacteristic move, the scientists who discovered this phenomenon — Sherry Rowland and Mario Molina — went to the media with their study. Despite the stigma attached to scientists speaking to the media at the time, Sherry and Mario called a press conference and suggested a ban on CFCs.

The companies producing CFCs lobbied hard and spent fortunes on ad campaigns declaring the use of chemical safe. But other studies followed leading to the announcement of a phase out of CFCs in America in 1976 with other countries following suit. In 1987, when the Montreal Protocol was established every single country on the planet was a signatory.

Today after some adjustments in the policies over the years we are well on our way to closing the Ozone hole. And as it turns out those policies have also had the largest effect in slowing down global warming as CFCs are a major greenhouse gas.

The climate crisis however, has turned out to be a more complex challenge. Carbon based fuel is far more pervasive than CFCs were, the lobbies far more powerful and the ozone hole was a clearer and more visible problem. But there is hope because we know that evidence-based policy making is effective and ozone hole like global warming was a global problem — everyone had to act for the solution to work.