Essay Sample on CFCs: Half a Century of Impact on Ozone Layer & Clean Air

Introduction

Close to half a century ago, CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) chemicals commonly used in aerosol sprays, were discovered to weaken the ozone layer. The ozone layer is the primary defense against the harmful rays of the sun. Nevertheless, the discovery became trending news with the public flustered over the discovery. The sale of aerosol sprays dropped significantly, and the amendment of the Clean Air Act of 1977 (Andersen, Sarma, and Taddonio, 2012). From the discovery of CFCs' effects on the enactment of the legislation, the handling of the crisis was effective. After the amendment of the Clean Air Act, CFCs were no longer used in refrigerators, aerosols, air conditioners and industrial process (Andersen, Sarma, and Taddonio, 2012). Other strategies, agreements and laws were passed after the discovery. The bottom line is that all the countries of the world participated in addressing the dire threats to humanity and life on the planet. They were able to identify and eradicate the chemical that distorted the fragile nature of the earth's atmosphere (Andersen, Sarma, and Taddonio, 2012). Many have used the efforts made by global powers to address the ozone depletion crisis to ask for reiteration but on climate change.

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What the public fails to understand is that climate change is a multifold and complex undertaking compared to the depletion of the ozone layer, which was only one issue. Climate change is caused and causes numerous factors and outcomes, respectively. Regardless, the critical fact is that climate change is taking place, and why are world governments not taking similar actions to resolve the problem? (Andersen, Sarma, and Taddonio, 2012). From the perspective of the public, the cause of global warming is carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor, among other chemicals. Similar approaches to handling the CFCs should also apply to greenhouse gases. Research identifies that in Both the United Kingdom and the United States of America, both had renowned researchers offer early warnings to the respective authorities, and no changes were made. Therefore, the government waits until the problem causes observable environmental damage or threatens individual wellness to inspire a response (Burns and Tobin, 2019). The situation is further exacerbated by the notion most common by political individuals that global warming is an isolated occurrence. In other words, it is a notion that will be addressed by future generations.

It is critical to appreciate the fact that technological advancements have med the curbing of carbon emissions effective. It is unlike the 1970s and 1980s when technology was unavailable to fix fluorocarbons emissions (Burns and Tobin, 2019). Therefore, as earlier stated, the global warming problem is a multifold and complex issue that required more than one solution for the realization of reasonable change. Additionally, the government must be impartial during investigations of climate change as the outcomes will affect both current and future generations (Beckford, 2018). Current scientific evidence identified that global temperatures are slowly climbing as of the new millennium. Some of the results are erratic weather conditions, heat waves, extended drought, and raining periods, among others. The primary strategy for climate change to attain similar consideration as the depleting ozone layer issue is by improving education on the issue (Beckford, 2018). Overall, climate change as a problem can attain similar recognition only if people attain the correct information. Additionally, the government is not influenced by the private sector by remaining impartial.

Conclusion

The research identifies that for the government to take action on the issue of climate change, the public must make the demand or physical damage as a result of climate change. Additionally, the ozone layer crisis was a simple problem which was addressed with a few legislations and amendment. The people can force the government to address the issue as the people will be among the first to suffer.

Reference

Andersen, S. O., Sarma, K. M., & Taddonio, K. N. (2012). Technology transfer for the ozone layer: Lessons for climate change. Routledge.

Beckford, F. B. (2018). Poverty and Climate Change: Restoring a Global Biogeochemical Equilibrium. Routledge.

Burns, C., & Tobin, P. (2019). Crisis, Climate Change and Comitology: Policy Dismantling via the Backdoor?. JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies.