The situation is serious, the earth is agonizing, but we can still save it, moreover we have already done it. There Environmental day – established by the United Nations in 1972 – it is much more than a simple anniversary. The one that is celebrated the June 5th It represents a precious opportunity for humanity to reflect on what we have not yet done to safeguard the planet that hosts us, but above all on the actions we can and we must all do together.
Scientists and activists have been repeating it for a long time: the time window to act is closing.
Humanity is in the balance on a thin layer of ice, which is quickly dissolving – these are the words uttered by the United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, in reference to one of the latest IPCC reports (Intergovernmental Panel on climate Change) – human beings are responsible for almost all global warming of the last 200 years. The climatic bomb marks the latter.
Over a century of exploitation of fossil fuels and of the related use of energy and soil has led to an increase in temperatures of 1.1 ° C compared to pre -industrial levels And we are increasingly close to overcoming the fateful threshold of 1.5 ° C. The consequences of this scenario are now under everyone’s eyes: extreme meterological phenomena, from floods to air trumpets, are becoming increasingly frequent. Hady of the world population lives in areas very vulnerable to climate change.
In the last decade, the deaths for floods, droughts and storms have been 15 times higher in these areas, as emerges from the climate ratio of the IPCC.
Not everything is lost, but it depends on us
The data on the climatic crisis are far from rosy, it is true. This does not mean, however, that we must surrender to our destiny. Getting taken by despair and reacting with resignation is not useful to anyone, on the contrary it is deleterious. Countries, companies and citizens must strive jointly so that global temperatures do not exceed the dangerous threshold of 1.5 ° C. The password to follow is: connection.
If we want to succeed we will have to cut the 43% greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and 60% by 2035 to reach the net zero by the middle of the century, as mentioned by the experts of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).
How? First of all overcoming the era of fossil fuels, Among the main factors at the origin of global warming, investing in the sector of sustainable mobility and in the sector of renewablesbut also consuming (foods and not only) in a more ethical and responsible way, fighting waste.
Closure of the ozone hole: a virtuous strategy to be inspired by
Recent history teaches us that if you intervene promptly you can really be able to change things. A clear example? The case concerning the ozone hole. For decades this phenomenon represented a huge threat that looked out on humanity. Now, however, it is no longer scary.
There Progressive “closing” of the ozone hole was announced by the UN in early 2023. As stated in the report, the total recovery of the Ozone layer will take place by 2040 in most of the world, while it will recreate completely by 2045 on the Arctic and by 2066 on Antarctica.
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It is a comforting news, expected for a long time. This important victory for the planet is nothing more than the result of a series of joint efforts. The date that marks the beginning of this virtuous path is the 1987; In that year, with the adoption of the Montréal protocol, the UN Member States finally undertook to ban the dangerous chlorophalocarbons (CFC), held the main responsible for the destruction of the ozone layer.
Getting to that historical decision was not at all simple, given that the DuPont company – at the time leader in the production of those substances – tried in every way to hinder the scientific research that demonstrated the deleterious impact of those chemical compounds (created for the first time in 1928 as an alternative to various substances used used in the refrigerators and subsequently used in paints, insecticides, packaging materials and solvents).
The American society du Pont put in place a campaign to demolish scientific evidence on the CFCs. But, in the end, science and common sense managed to have better on profit and disinformation.
To date the Montreal protocol is The only Treaty of the United Nations ratified by all the member countries.
The action on ozone is a precedent for climate action. – commented in this regard the Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization Petteri Taalas. – Our success in gradually eliminating chemicals that damage ozone shows us what can be and must be done urgently to abandon fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse gases and therefore limit the increase in temperature has declared the secretary general of the world meteorological organization Petteri Taalas.
The story of the ozone hole reminds us of something that we should always keep in mind: we can save the planet and reconnect to it, but there is a need for the active and concrete commitment of all.
