THE recently held workshop between the Ministry of Agriculture and stakeholders with regarding the Plan to diminish ozone depleting substances (ODS), once again demonstrates the PPP/C government’s serious commitment towards the battle against the effects of climate change. The stark reality of global warming is that the ozone layer that forms the protective shield against the harsh radiation of the sun is depleting very rapidly, due to the indiscriminate use of methane substances called hydro chlorofluorocarbons. Without this protection, the earth will become warmer, as it has began to; there will be an increased risk of blindness, skin cancers, a suppressed immune system, coupled with destruction to the ecosystems, crop failures, rising sea levels, just to name a few of the threats posed. As a matter of fact in 1985, the depletion of the ozone had been measured at some 18 million square kilometers. This deterioration has now progressed to 29.4 million square kilometers, based on stats this writer saw up to the year 2000. Therefore given the increase in bush fires and melting ice in the Arctic, for example, there can be no challenge to the fact that Earth is becoming warmer.
The laudable aspect of this Management Plan is the involvement of both the key players in the chemical industry and state personnel. This is a masterstroke since both, the former with their knowledge of these harmful methane substances, and the latter that comprises representatives of the agriculture and allied centres, and enforcement, will be able to present a final position on the question of HCFC.
Once again, the Ministry must be commended for taking this very critical step, which may appear insignificant to some; but extremely pivotal as it will add to the already known LCDS as part of Guyana’s contribution towards mitigating the effects of global warming.