Which protocol requires the reduction of ozone-depleting substances?
1 Answer
The Montreal Protocol was designed to protect the ozone layer.
Explanation:
The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty that was designed to protect the ozone layer from substances that harm it. The Montreal Protocol was first agreed upon in 1987, was signed into action January 1st of 1991, and has undergone multiple revisions since.
The use of chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs, hydrochlorofluorocarbons or HFCCs and hydrofluorocarbons HFCs are the main substances that should be reduced or phased out completely but other substances such as methyl bromide and halons are also included.
The timeline a country will follow to phase out a certain chemical depends on whether it is considered a developing or a developed country. For example, developed countries needed to phase out halons by the end of 1993 but developing countries had until 2010. The Montreal Protocol is widely considered to be successful, as the hole in the ozone layer is subsiding.
To read more and see a timeline of events, see this link. See this related Socratic question on CFCs and this one on the effects of a damaged ozone layer on the planet.
