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Stratospheric Ozone Depletion: A Critical Planetary Boundary

Planet Price | B Corp

Quantifying the real cost of everything

发布日期: 2024年10月11日

Stratospheric ozone depletion is one of the nine planetary boundaries that define the limits within which humanity can safely operate without causing irreversible damage to Earth’s systems. The ozone layer, located in the stratosphere, protects life on Earth by absorbing harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

However, human activities—particularly the release of halocarbon compounds used in industry—have led to the thinning of this protective layer. These chemicals, once released into the atmosphere, persist for decades, gradually breaking down ozone molecules. This depletion increases the risk of harmful UV radiation reaching the Earth’s surface, which can lead to higher rates of skin cancer, cataracts, and damage to ecosystems.

The planetary boundary for ozone depletion is measured in Dobson units (DU), with the safe limit set at 276 DU, representing a less than 5% reduction from preindustrial levels. Thanks to international efforts such as the Montreal Protocol, the global ozone layer has begun to recover, but it remains depleted over the Antarctic for part of the year. The success of the Montreal Protocol, which was ratified in 1987, offers a powerful lesson in the potential for global cooperation to solve environmental crises. This landmark agreement helped phase out the production of ozone-depleting substances, and as a result, the ozone layer has shown signs of recovery. However, the underlying drivers of ozone depletion—an economic system reliant on harmful chemicals and unsustainable industrial practices—remain largely unchanged.

While we have successfully reduced the immediate threat to the ozone layer, we have not addressed the deeper systemic issues that continue to push us toward environmental collapse. The persistence of these chemicals in our atmosphere reflects the same high-throughput, extractive economic model that contributes to other planetary crises, from climate change to biodiversity loss. At the heart of this issue is an economic system that prioritizes short-term profits over long-term planetary health. Harmful chemicals, like the halocarbons that caused ozone depletion, are often used because they are cheap and effective, with little consideration given to their environmental impact. This practice externalizes the costs of pollution, placing the burden of environmental degradation on ecosystems and future generations.

To truly protect the ozone layer—and prevent further damage to our planet—we must go beyond regulatory compliance. We need to rethink the industrial processes and production methods that rely on harmful substances, shifting towards cleaner, sustainable technologies that prioritize ecological balance and human health. Transitioning to an economy that is free from toxic chemicals and other environmentally harmful practices requires systemic change. This means adopting policies that incentivize the use of safer alternatives, investing in the development of cleaner technologies, and holding industries accountable for their environmental impacts.

The Montreal Protocol showed us that coordinated global action can reverse environmental damage, but now we must extend this ambition to address the broader economic structures that continue to threaten not just the ozone layer, but the planet’s overall resilience.