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Back from the Brink: Lessons Learned from Saving the Ozone Layer
By David Doniger, Climate Policy Director, NRDC
In September of 1987, two dozen nations joined together to adopt the Montreal Protocol, the world's most successful environmental treaty. By banning the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other ozone depleting chemicals, the Montreal Protocol and subsequent agreements saved millions of lives and prevented an environmental catastrophe by stopping destruction of the stratospheric ozone layer, the thin atmospheric film that shields the earth from cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation. Looking back 20 years later, the story of the fight to save the ozone layer gives us valuable insight into solving today's most pressing environmental issue -- global warming.
Industry efforts to discredit ozone science postponed action for more than 10 years, letting the damage to the ozone layer get much more serious. Today, some in industry are still trying to delay action to stop global warming. We cannot afford to get fooled again. The longer we wait to act, the harder it will be to stave off the worst global warming impacts. The CFC industry argued in the early years that ozone depleting substances were irreplaceable. Yet by the late 1980s we were awash in alternatives as industry introduced CFC-free refrigerators and air conditioners, and CFC-free manufacturing processes. Today some in industry tell us we cannot have clean energy. But if we adopt carbon limits, market forces will bring forth new energy technologies. We already have huge untapped reserves of energy efficiency and clean energy technologies. The United States led the negotiations leading to the Montreal Protocol and implemented strong ozone-protection policies at home. Our leadership paid off. But for seven years the Bush administration has dragged its feet at home and abroad. Now is the time for Congress to restore U.S.leadership by adopting strong limits on the carbon pollution that is driving global warming.
The Montreal Protocol can serve as an inspiration and a valuable stepping stone as we confront global warming, the biggest environmental challenge of our time. We did it once, and we can do it again.
Related NRDC Pages last revised 9.12.07 |
