Germany: fighting for ozone

1992/07/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ingurumena

Twelve EU states have recently adopted special measures to protect the ozone layer. In them there is an industrial concern that prevents the production and sale of chlorofluoro hydrocarbons from 1995.

In addition, Germany does not fully agree with this decision and the Minister of Environment, Klaus Toepfer, wants to shorten the term of two more years. He has already taken the first steps. In Germany 1993 will be the last year of production and distribution of chlorofluoro hydrocarbons.

Industrial CFC producers have shown concern. They say that a lot of jobs can be lost, as there is not enough time to implement substitute substances.

CFC products have been shown to be the main culprit of ozone thinning. It is known that thinning the ozone layer can cause serious consequences to current living beings. On the other hand, in the production of CFCs there are many people working and in our society these products are used in many places.

The presence of substitute substances, although the ozone layer is not affected, is not known what other atmospheric phenomena can produce.

Therefore, reader, the above is but one more chapter of this competition.