PS536, Global Environmental Law and Policy
Spring Semester 2008
Session Outline - Week 9
The Ozone Depletion Regime
Health effects of UV-B radiation
I. Stages in Scientific Knowledge of Ozone Depletion Problem
Discovery and measurement of ozone layer
1830 - Initial Discovery
1930 - Dobson Spectrophotometer (for measuring ozone in the statosphere)
1957 - Global Ozone Observing System (integrated into the WMO's Global Atmospheric Watch Program in 1989)
Theory of threat to ozone layer
1974 - Molina/Rowland (theory that CFCs deplete ozone layer) (other ozone depleting chemicals)
Evidence of stratospheric ozone loss
1985 - Antarctic ozone hole announced by British Antarctic Survey
1980s - lesser loss in temperate regions (between 1980 and 2000, the average loss is about 3%)
1990s - Arctic ozone hole discovered
Early 1990s - Evidence of increased UV radiation
1990s - Evidence of health and environmental impacts
2006 - Ozone hole breaks record
2007 - Ozone hole returns to "average"
II. International Agreements to Protect the Ozone Layer
1985 Vienna (Framework) Convention on Protecting the Ozone Layer
1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
CFCs
By 1987 - Freeze at 1986 levels by 1987
20% reduction by 1993
50% reduction by 1998
Halons
Freeze at 1986 levels by 1992
1990 London Amendment and Adjustments
CFCs - 100% reduction by 2000
Halons - 100% reduction by 2000
Carbon tetrachloride phased out by 2000
Methyl chloroform phased out by 2010
1992 Copenhagen Amendment and Adjustments
CFCs - 100% reduction by 1996
Halons - 100% phaseout by 1994
HCFCs
Freeze at 1989 levels by 1996
35% reduction by 2004
65% reduction by 2010
100% phaseout by 2020
Methyl Bromide
Developing Countries limit production at 1991 levels by 1995
1995 Vienna Adjustments
Methyl Bromide
Industrialized countries will
reduce by 50% by 2005
completely phase out , with exceptions for "critical agricultural uses" by 2010
Developing countries will by
freeze consumption at average consumption for 1995-1998
HCFCs
Developed countries move up phase-out date from 2030 to 2020,
except for "service tail"
1997 Montreal Amendment and Adjustments
1999 Beijing Adjustments
Methyl Bromide
Developed countries total phase-out by 2005
Developing countries 20% reduction by 2005, total phaseout by 2015
Summary of Phase-out Schedules
III. Impacts of the Montreal Protocol and Amendments
Reductions in the production and use of ozone depleting substances
Prognosis for recovery of the ozone layer
Issues
Black market
US request for exemption from 2005 deadline for phasing out methyl bromide
IV. Lessons from the Ozone Negotiations
Contributions of Science
Importance of Leadership
Participation by Industry
Need for Concessions to the Third World
Value of Flexibility