Atmosphere

The earth’s atmosphere is negatively affected by air pollution from human activity. In fact, air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year. World Health Organization (WHO) data shows 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants.

Different forms of atmospheric pollution have different consequences. First, factories, power plants and vehicles produce sulfur and nitrogen oxides. These pollutants can cause respiratory ailments and aggravate conditions such as asthma. They can also cause acid rain, or acid deposition, which harms trees, lakes and streams and the wildlife that live there. Second, industrial processes and explosions may release harmful particulate matter into the atmosphere, which the wind then spreads around the world. This is of particular concern when winds spread pesticides, radioactivity, or other hazardous material. Third, the stratospheric ozone layer is needed to absorb most of the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Some manmade chemicals, especially refrigerants, can rise into the stratosphere, react chemically with the ozone molecules, and eat away at the earth’s ozone layer. Increased UV rays can cause increases in certain types of skin cancers, eye cataracts, and immune deficiency disorders. They  also affect plant growth, reducing agricultural productivity.

Events and Articles

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Viena Convention COP 8 and Montreal Protocol MOP 20

COP-8/MOP-20 adopted a Doha Declaration and 29 decisions, including: replenishment of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol; ratification; compliance; methyl bromide; destruction of ODS; essential- and critical-use exemptions; process agents; and financial and administrative matters.
Event 16 November 2008 - 20 November 2008

Montreal Protocol MOP 18

When the meeting concluded late on Friday evening, parties had managed to adopt decisions on almost all agenda items, with the majority of negotiations conducted in contact and informal groups. Parties did not agree to a draft or final decision on Canada’s proposal to adjust the Montreal Protocol to meet the basic domestic needs of Article 5 parties.
Event 30 October 2006 - 3 November 2006

26th Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol

Delegates agreed to forward seven draft decisions to the eighteenth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (MOP-18), to be held in New Delhi, India, from 30 October 2006 to 3 November 2006. These draft decisions address: essential-use nominations for 2007 and 2008; an essential-use nomination for CFC-113 for aerospace applications in the Russian Federation for 2007-2010; and more.
Event 3 July 2006 - 6 July 2006

CSD 14

Event 1 May 2006 - 12 May 2006