World Ozone Day in 2022: History, Advantages, Role of Electric Vehicles, and More
World Ozone Day which is also called International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer observed on the 16th of September of every year. This year the theme of Ozone day was "Montreal Protocol@35". Every year this day reminds us about one of the greatest threats for the current and future generations: the depletion and the consequences that this ozone depletion will cause. The day aims to make people aware of the importance of protecting the ozone layer from depletion by taking various humanitarian efforts.
The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty that aims to protect the ozone layer depletion by eliminating the production of harmful substances that contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. The Montreal Protocol was agreed upon on September 16, 1987, and was discussed on January 1, 1989. Since then, the Montreal Protocol has been signed in various places like it has been signed in London in 1990, Nairobi in 1991, Copenhagen in 1992, Bangkok in 1993, Vienna in 1995, Montreal in 1997, Australia in 1998, Beijing in 1999, and Kigali in 2016 through nine editions.
What is Ozone Layer?
The ozone layer is in the Earth's upper atmosphere and this fragile shield of gas protects us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. Eliminating ozone-depleting substances not only helps protect the ozone layer from substances that causes its depletion but also contributes to the international community's efforts to combat climate change.
Factors causing Ozone depletion
Man's actions cause a lot of problems to the environment and his actions are also responsible for ozone layer depletion. The hole is happening due to the aerosols and ozone-depleting gases (ODS) used in cooling products such as refrigerators and air conditioners that will cause danger to life on Earth. Globally, multiple steps have been taken due to which the hole in the ozone layer is mending. Eliminating billions of tons of CO2 emissions would benefit health and the environment.
History of the Ozone Day
World Ozone Day was first instituted in 1995 to raise awareness about the importance of the ozone layer for our upcoming generation. In the 1970s, scientists expressed concern when they discovered that human activities caused a hole in the ozone layer. On this basis, governments around the world show concern and started finding ways to protect the layer. In order to do this, they adopted the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer in 1985 and decided to protect it from depletion. World Ozone Day on September 16 will celebrate this achievement and show that collective decision-making and action are the only ways to protect the ozone layer and human existence as well.
Electric Vehicle and Ozone
We all know that electric vehicle tends today to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, as well as greenhouse gas emissions. The electric vehicle does not emit photochemical ozone, unlike the thermal vehicle during the driving phase. On the other hand, the electric vehicle consumes as much primary energy as a thermal vehicle, over its entire life cycle… or even perhaps more.
Simulations over the warmer summer period showed that EV helped ozone levels had decreased across the board. The winter months were slightly different, with slightly elevated ozone levels. Still, this information was offset by the fact that winter ozone levels are already much lower due to various chemical reactions that occur under scarce sunlight. In several cases, studies found that ozone concentrations improved in the summer as more vehicles were converted to electric vehicles. Regardless of how much power is generated, the more electric cars on the road, the better the ozone quality.
