Title of paper

9. References

DRFN / Desert Research Foundation of Namibia and CSAG / Climate Systems Analysis Group of the University of Cape Town 2008. Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment Report Namibia. Windhoek.
IPCC / Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 2007. IPPC Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007 (Contribution of Working Group I: The Physical Science Basis). Cambridge / New York. Cambridge University Press.
GRN / Government of the Republic of Namibia. 2011. Namibia Second National Communication to the UNFCCC. Windhoek. MET.

10. Further reading recommendations

Davis, C.L. 2011. Climate Risk and Vulnerability: A Handbook for Southern Africa. Pretoria. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
DRFN / Desert Research Foundation of Namibia. 2009. Review and Update of National Circumstances. Final Report. Windhoek. MET.
Hartz, C. / C. Smith. 2008. Namibia’s greenhouse gas inventory for year 2000. Windhoek. MET.
Oregon State University. 2010. Climate Change Handbook: A Citizen’s guide to thoughtful action. Oregon.

What is the Ozone Layer and why is it important?

By Maria Johannes, Caroline Karingombe and Belinda Taljaard in cooperation with Viviane Kinyaga⁶

1. What is the ozone layer?

Ozone is a special form of oxygen made up of three oxygen atoms rather than the normal two oxygen atoms. It is usually formed when some type of radiation or electrical discharge separates the two atoms in an oxygen molecule (O₂), which can then individually recombine with other oxygen molecules to form ozone (O₃).
The ozone layer is a deep layer of naturally occurring gas that filters the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the stratosphere. The layer shields the entire earth from much of the harmful ultraviolet radiation that comes from the sun. A diminished ozone layer allows more radiation to reach the earth’s surface.
For people, overexposure to UV rays can lead to skin cancer, cataracts and a weakened immune system. Increased UV can also lead to reduced crop yield and disruptions in the marine food chain. UV also has other harmful effects.

2. How does ozone depletion occur?

Ozone depletion is caused by the release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydro fluorocarbons (HCFCs) and other ozone-depleting substances (ODS), which were used widely as refrigerants, insulating foams and solvents. When CFCs and HCFCs reach the stratosphere, the ultraviolet radiation from the sun causes them to break apart and release chlorine atoms which react with ozone, starting chemical cycles of ozone destruction that deplete the ozone layer.
Other chemicals that damage the ozone layer include methyl bromide (used as pesticide), halons (used in fire extinguishers) and methyl chloroform (used as a solvent in industrial processes for essential applications). When methyl bromide and halons are broken apart, they release bromine atoms, which are more destructive to ozone molecules than chlorine atoms.

3. What is being done about ozone depletion?

The ozone layer became more widely appreciated in public when it was realized that certain chemicals that were manufactured, the so-called chlorofluorocarbons, find their way up into the stratosphere where they destroy through a complex series of chemical reactions some of the ozone. As a result of this discovery and the arisen awareness in public, an international treaty, called the Montreal Protocol, was signed in 1973, which led to a significant reduction of these chemicals.
In order to meet the requirements agreed upon in the Montreal Protocol, the United States, for example, set the next step in the elimination of ozone depleting substances in 2010 when the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or sometimes USEPA) banned the production of the most harmful HCFCs. This production phase out was possible because of the efforts that were made to ensure there were substitute chemicals and technologies for the compounds being phased out.
Individuals can also help to avoid ozone-depleting substances. This can be done primarily by ensuring that technicians working on air conditioning and refrigeration equipment are certified by EPA, that refrigerants are recaptured and not released and by educating themselves about the issue of ozone depletion.

4. Will the ozone layer recover?

Provided that we stop producing ozone depleting substances, ozone will be created through natural processes that should return the ozone layer to normal levels by around 2050 as estimated by scientists.
It is therefore very important that the world complies with the Montreal Protocol. Delays in ending the production of ozone depleting substances could result in additional damage and prolong the ozone layer’s recovery.

5. What can Namibians do to reduce our contribution to ozone depletion?

The environment cannot be conserved if economic growth leaves out the cost of environmental destruction. Development cannot take place sustainably if our environment is being destroyed. Therefore, as trainees of the energy training it is our responsibility to tackle this problem and to search for environmentally friendly ways of energy production to solve Namibia’s energy crisis without harming our delicate ozone layer.
Individuals, businesses, organisations and the government should be concerned about protecting the ozone layer for the benefit of Namibia. The phase out of ozone depleting substances will make a substantial contribution towards the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as their global warming potential is very high.
We suggest that our government comes up with innovative strategies to achieve the phase out targets set in the Montreal Protocol by doing the following:

• 
  Granting exemptions on devices or applications for which immediate full-scale replacement is not feasible, such as critical uses of methyl bromide that are used to control pests in agriculture and food storage.
  
• 
  Support careful management of existing inventories of ozone depleting substances and encourage their proper destruction.
  
• 
  Establish tradable permits for import and production of ozone depleting substances.
  
• 
  Support efforts to reclaim and recycle ozone depleting substances to reduce emissions while meeting the needs of critical users as they transition to alternatives.