Lyla Lindsey
The discovery of the ozone hole in 1985 led to global alarm about the thinning of the ozone layer. This resulted in an international treaty in 1987 that aimed to cut the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in half. CFCs, which were commonly found in household aerosol sprays, refrigerants, Styrofoam packaging, and fire extinguishers, were responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer. By 1995, Australia had effectively banned the manufacture and importation of CFCs, ahead of the Montreal Protocol requirements for developed countries. This ban was part of a global effort to protect the ozone layer, and Australia's contribution, though small, played a role in the slow recovery of the ozone layer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of the ban | 1995 |
| Percentage of phase-out | 95% |
| International treaty | Montreal Protocol |
| Year of discovery of the ozone layer | 1985 |
| Year of international treaty | 1987 |
| Year of strengthening the treaty to ban CFCs in industrialised countries | 2000 |
| Year of strengthening the treaty to ban CFCs in developing countries | 2010 |
| Number of countries that have outlawed the use of CFCs | 197 |
| Australian CFC emissions since 1978 | Less than 1% of global emissions |
| Current CFC emissions in Australia | Likely from 'banks' of closed-cell foams and refrigeration-air conditioning equipment now more than 20 years old |
| Exceptions to the ban | Medical, veterinary, defence, industrial safety or public safety purposes, equipment for private or domestic use, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
CFCs were phased out in Australia by 1995
The use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) has been linked to the depletion of the ozone layer, which was discovered in 1985. This thinning of the ozone layer has had particularly detrimental effects on Australia and New Zealand, which have the highest rates of skin cancer worldwide due to their proximity to the ozone hole. As a result, there was widespread public, business, and world leader acceptance of the severity and urgency of the problem, leading to the phase-out of CFCs.
CFCs, developed in the 1930s, were initially considered a miracle find for the industry due to their non-toxic, non-flammable, and inexpensive nature. They found their way into a wide range of commercial and industrial applications, including aerosol sprays, refrigerants, Styrofoam packaging, solvents, and fire extinguishers. However, the discovery of the ozone hole in 1985 and the realisation of the far greater magnitude of the problem than previously thought, sparked international alarm.
By 1987, just two years after the discovery of the ozone hole, an international treaty was signed, halving the use of CFCs. This treaty, known as the Montreal Protocol, was strengthened in 1990 to mandate a complete ban on the use of CFCs in industrialised countries by 2000 and in developing countries by 2010. Australia played a key role in this process, with the manufacture and importation of CFCs within and into the country effectively banned by the end of 1995, ahead of the Montreal Protocol's requirements for developed countries.
The phase-out in Australia was facilitated by the declining market for CFCs and the increasing possibilities for profiting from the production of substitutes. This shift in industry dynamics led to an alliance between the environmental movement and companies that stood to gain from increased regulations. As a result, Australian CFC emissions have been on a downward trajectory, contributing to the global effort to heal the ozone layer and mitigate climate change.
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The ozone layer was discovered in 1985
The ozone layer was discovered in 1913 by French physicists Charles Fabry and Henri Buisson. They deduced that the missing radiation in their measurements was being absorbed by something in the atmosphere, and that this substance was ozone. The British meteorologist G. M. B. Dobson further explored the properties of ozone and developed a simple spectrophotometer (the Dobsonmeter) to measure stratospheric ozone from the ground. Between 1928 and 1958, Dobson established a worldwide network of ozone monitoring stations, which are still in operation today.
The photochemical mechanisms that give rise to the ozone layer were discovered by British physicist Sydney Chapman in 1930. Ozone in the Earth's stratosphere is created when ultraviolet light strikes oxygen molecules, splitting them into individual atoms. These atoms then combine with other oxygen molecules to create ozone (O3). The ozone molecule is unstable, and when ultraviolet light hits it, it splits into an oxygen molecule and an individual atom, a continuous process called the ozone-oxygen cycle.
While the ozone layer itself was discovered in 1913, the discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole was not announced until May 16, 1985, by Joe Farman, Brian Gardiner, and Jonathan Shanklin in a paper published in Nature. This discovery provided evidence that the magnitude of ozone depletion was far greater than scientists had originally predicted and sparked international alarm. The thinning of the ozone layer over Antarctica has had particularly severe impacts on Australia and New Zealand, which have the highest rates of skin cancer in the world due to their proximity to the ozone hole.
In response to the discovery of the ozone hole in 1985, there was a rapid transition to phase out the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which were identified as the main cause of ozone depletion. By 1987, just two years after the discovery of the ozone hole, an international treaty was in place to cut CFC use in half. The Montreal Protocol, negotiated in 1987, further strengthened the commitment to reduce and eventually ban the use of CFCs. Today, the use of CFCs is outlawed by 197 countries, and scientists agree that the ozone layer is slowly recovering.
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DuPont was the main producer of CFCs
Australia and New Zealand have been particularly affected by the thinning of the ozone layer over Antarctica, experiencing the highest rates of skin cancer globally. The discovery of the ozone hole in 1985 caused international alarm, leading to a multilateral treaty in 1987 that halved the use of CFCs. CFCs, or chlorofluorocarbons, were developed in the 1930s and used in a wide range of commercial and industrial applications, including refrigerators, air conditioners, aerosol sprays, Styrofoam packaging, solvents, and fire extinguishers. They were considered a miracle find due to their low toxicity, reactivity, and flammability.
DuPont's support was crucial in the success of the Montreal Protocol, which was strengthened in 1990 to mandate a complete ban on CFCs in industrialised countries by 2000 and in developing countries by 2010. Today, 197 countries have outlawed CFCs, and scientists agree that the ozone layer is slowly recovering as a result.
Thomas Midgley Jr. of General Motors is credited with synthesizing the first CFCs in the late 1920s. He worked with Frigidaire and DuPont to develop a safer, non-toxic alternative to the toxic gases used in refrigerators at the time, such as chloromethane. By 1930, General Motors and DuPont formed the Kinetic Chemical Company to produce Freon, the brand name for CFCs in the United States. By 1935, over 8 million refrigerators using R-12, a type of CFC, were sold.
While CFCs were neither toxic nor flammable, Midgley's other invention, leaded gasoline, released large quantities of lead into the atmosphere, causing serious long-term health problems and increased levels of violence and criminality worldwide.
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CFCs were used in aerosol sprays
CFCs, or chlorofluorocarbons, are chemicals that were developed in the 1930s and used in a wide range of commercial and industrial applications. One of the most common uses of CFCs was in aerosol sprays, such as deodorants and hair sprays. CFCs were also used in refrigeration, Styrofoam packaging, solvents, and fire extinguishers. Due to their non-toxic, non-flammable nature and low production cost, CFCs were considered a "miracle find" for the industry. By the 1970s, they were being produced and widely used in the United States, Europe, and emerging economies such as China, Brazil, and India.
The discovery of the ozone hole in 1985 raised international alarm about the thinning of the ozone layer. This led to a multilateral effort to ban the use of CFCs, which were found to be responsible for the deterioration of the ozone layer. The public, businesses, and world leaders all recognised the severity and urgency of the problem, which helped accelerate the transition away from CFCs.
In 1975, over a decade before the Montreal Protocol, Sam Johnson, an environmental leader, removed CFCs from aerosol products produced by SC Johnson. This decision was based on scientific research, which later won the 1995 Nobel Prize. Johnson communicated the change to the industry and the public through full-page ads in newspapers, explaining the science behind the decision and emphasising that not all aerosols contained CFCs.
The removal of CFCs from aerosol products was a challenging process, as evidenced by SC Johnson's experience. The company had to pull out of the aerosol business in several countries and exit the antiperspirant market in the UK, where they were the market leader. Johnson's decision faced criticism from industry executives, who accused him of jeopardising the industry. However, it ultimately proved beneficial for both the environment and the company. SC Johnson saved millions of dollars in production costs by switching to cheaper alternative gases, such as propane and isobutane.
By 1987, just two years after the discovery of the ozone hole, an international treaty was in place to halve the use of CFCs. The Montreal Protocol, established in the same year, aimed to ban the use of CFCs in industrialised countries by 2000 and in developing countries by 2010. Today, 197 countries have outlawed the use of CFCs, and scientists agree that the ozone layer is slowly recovering as a result.
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CFC emissions in Australia have been declining
Australia has been suffering from the thinning of the ozone layer over Antarctica, which has resulted in the country experiencing the highest rates of skin cancer globally. The ozone layer was discovered in 1985, and just two years later, an international treaty was in place to cut the use of CFCs by half. CFCs, or chlorofluorocarbons, are chemicals that were developed in the 1930s and were used in a wide range of commercial and industrial processes before they were banned. They were commonly found in aerosol sprays, refrigerants, Styrofoam packaging, solvents, and fire extinguishers.
In Australia, total CFC-113 emissions since 1978 (16.2 Gg) account for 0.6% of global emissions (2.8 Tg). CFC-113 emissions declined significantly by approximately 65% between 1995 and 1997. CFC-11 emissions also declined significantly by 50% between 1995 and 1996. From 2005 to 2017, CFC-11 emissions continued to decline, and since 2010, they have remained relatively constant. CFC-12 emissions showed a similar downward trend, decreasing from 2.0 Gg in 1995 to 0.4 Gg in 2017.
The unexpected rise in CFC-11 emissions in 2013 was a cause for concern, but recent data from 2018 to 2019 shows a significant decline, suggesting a decrease in unreported CFC-11 production. This decline is encouraging and indicates that the observational systems in place to monitor compliance with the Montreal Protocol are effective.
The Montreal Protocol, strengthened in 1990, aimed to ban CFCs in industrialised countries by 2000 and in developing countries by 2010. The protocol has been successful, with 197 countries outlawing the use of CFCs today, and Australia's declining CFC emissions reflect this global trend.
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Frequently asked questions
The manufacture and importation of CFCs were effectively banned in Australia at the end of 1995.
CFCs, or chlorofluorocarbons, are potent greenhouse gases and stratospheric ozone-depleting trace gases. Their ban has helped reduce Australian greenhouse gas emissions.
CFCs were used in a wide array of commercial and industrial products, including aerosol sprays, refrigerants, Styrofoam packaging, solvents, and fire extinguishers.
The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty that aimed to cut the use of CFCs by half by 1987. It was strengthened in 1990 to ban the use of CFCs altogether in industrialised countries by 2000 and by 2010 in developing countries. The treaty has been ratified by 197 countries, including Australia.
