World Ozone Day special – Earth without Ozone is like House without Roof : Deepak Sharma

Earth without Ozone is like House without Roof : Deepak Sharma

‘World Ozone Day’ special

“World Ozone Day” or “Ozone Layer Conservation Day” is celebrated all over the world on 16th September. Life on Earth has always been a struggle in one way or the other. It is clear from the study of history and geography that it took a long time for the evolution of life on Earth but what has been given to human beings by nature to help humans sustain a good life, today man himself is trying to ruin it by continuously interfering with the natural processes. Man has brought himself to an extent where nature can destroy him in seconds and is rather on the verge of doing it. Imbalance is created by deforestation and exploiting all natural resources. Transportation vehicles have polluted the air, factories have played their part in polluting major water resources due to which life on earth is getting pathetic day by day. In this technological era, human beings are destroying everything that becomes an obstacle in their material progress for fulfilling their short term benefits.
Similarly, for comfort and convenience, man is determined to destroy the ozone layer which protects us from the dangerous ultraviolet rays emanating from the Sun. Today, due to increasing industrial activity, the ozone layer which saves our life is being depleted.

World Ozone Day is reminiscent of the Montreal Protocol that was imposed on the usage of substances that destroy the ozone layer.This protocol can be perceived as a pledge taken by all the countries to protect the ozone layer under the “Treaty of Vienna” to protect life on Earth. Every year people are reminded of its importance through different themes with reference to the conservation of the ozone layer.

The theme of this year i.e. World Ozone Day 2020 is ‘Ozone for Life’.

The ozone layer is mostly damaged by man-made chemicals that mainly contain gaseous chlorine or bromine. These chemicals are known as Ozone Depleting Substances (OSDs). Holes in the ozone layer start appearing when the quantity of such chemicals is high in the atmosphere and harmful UV rays of the sun start reaching Earth’s surface.

What will happen to the Earth if the ozone layer is not protected properly?

The ozone layer is a layer of ozone molecules found exclusively in the stratospheric layer of the atmosphere between 20 and 40 km distance. The ozone layer is formed in the atmosphere when ultraviolet rays from the Sun break down oxygen atoms. Oxygen atoms combine with othe oxygen atoms and thus form ozone molecules. Problem arises when harmful radiations from the Sun are unable to escape from the atmosphere after striking the surface of the Earth.

Most scientists believe that life on Earth would cease to exist without the ozone. Survival of people, plants and animals will be severely affected due to non-availability of ozone layer. Even underwater life will be impacted hugely due to lack of ozone. Ozone layer depletion will cause the natural balance to deteriorate even more and icebergs begin to thaw. So the depletion of the ozone is an overall threat to life and nature.

History of World Ozone Day-

Since 16th September, 1994, the annual day for the preservation of the ozone layer is celebrated with great enthusiasm across the world. The day was designated to mark the declaration made by the United Nations. The date of 19th December, 2000 was designated by the United Nations to sign the Montreal Convention concerning the depletion of the ozone layer as it’s depletion had increased drastically since 1995, the first year when this day was celebrated worldwide to protect the ozone layer.

Everything on our planet is interconnected. Mother Earth provides us with valuable amenities without which our lives are simply unimaginable. Therefore, we must adopt a more organic and holistic approach to sustain the natural balance so that everyone gets enriched by the environment without laying seeds of its destruction.The lack of ozone is the main reason for climate change in today’s world. Fortunately it has not reached to an uncontrollable degree but if the issue is left unattended it can cause severe destruction in our lives.

World Ozone Day provides a worldwide platform to spread awareness about conservation of ozone among people This is the right time and we must put in our best endeavours to preserve the protective ozone layer and inculcate awareness about it.
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