Athens, September 26, 2007, 11.00 a.m.
On the completion of 20 years since the start of the Montreal Protocol on the Protection of the Ozone Layer, world-renowned scientists met for four days in Athens and on September 26, 2007 they reached the “Athens Declaration”, which resulted from the extensive announcements and discussions that preceded it and which included the latest scientific developments of the past decades. During the works of the previous Symposium, it occurred that at least for the time being the high concentration of chlorine in the stratosphere has been avoided as well as the significant ozone depletion which is accompanied by high levels of ultraviolet solar radiation on the planet has also been avoided. Of course, it is essential that the implementation of the Montreal Protocol be continued and expanded in order to secure the protection provided by the ozone layer in the future.
The previous Symposium is the result of the most characteristic example of successful cooperation on a global level among scientists, industry representatives as well as representatives of decision-making centers and international organizations. Apart from the potential ozone destroying substances as these are designated by the Montreal Protocol, there are also other factors which affect ozone fluctuation and by extension the constantly increasing ultraviolet solar radiation. Suspending particles, volcanic eruptions and climate change in general are the basic reasons which delay the expected recovery of the ozone layer, a considerable part of which had already been destroyed due to the effect of the substances that deplete it.
In regions like Greece, where climate change can lead to a considerable decrease in rainfall and an increase in the frequency of heat waves, with corresponding occurrences of particle pollution and increasing levels of urban ozone, the new scientific and political challenges will have to be addressed the soonest possible. The “Athens Declaration” specifically includes the following:
Effect of climate change – Ozone/climate interactions
- The decrease of ozone depleting substances constitutes a major factor that will lead us to the expected recovery of ozone levels before 1980. However, climate change will determine whether, when and to what extent the ozone will be restored to its previous levels in different regions of the planet.
- A further increase in the emissions of greenhouse gases will contribute to the decrease of the average stratospheric temperature. As the reaction speeds of the chemical reactions in the atmosphere depend on temperature, ozone concentrations become directly dependent on climate change. The stratospheric frigidity that has been observed in the past two decades entails further temperature changes in the stratospheric circulation, and they are expected to affect the climate and the weather in the troposphere as well.
Proposals for Policy Strategy
- The Montreal Protocol works: There is clear evidence for the decrease of ozone destroying substances in the atmosphere and early signs of the ozone layer recovery.
- Failure to comply with the Montreal Protocol will delay or even avert the recovery of the ozone layer.
- Understanding the interactions between the ozone layer and climate change is
crucial in order to ensure future ozone sufficiency in the stratosphere. - Stratospheric and tropospheric ozone are crucial atmospheric components for
the global climatic system. Understanding this system requires constant and
increasing monitoring of the levels of ozone and other related atmospheric elements, through both terrestrial and satellite systems. These observations
will provide substantial information for the gradual withdrawal of halogenated
hydrocarbons, as foreseen by the Montreal Protocol, and for the evolution of
the climate in relation to climate change. Continuous scientific progress in
both laboratory studies and the development / improvement of mathematical
models is also necessary to continue. - Finally, it is deemed necessary to develop relevant collaborations among
scientists, industry representatives, environmental agencies and representatives
of the political decision-making centers, for the development of functional and
effective approaches as it regards to environmental threats in the new “manmade”
era that humanity is going through.