1995 was the final year in which Australia produced any CFC substances. No ozone depleting substances are produced within Australia today. (Department of the Environment and Heritage 2001)
Management strategies to cease the import of CFCs were implemented into Australian borders. The total imports of CFCs decreased from 2101.0 tonnes in 1991 to 9.5 tonnes in 2000 (Department of the Environment and Heritage 2001; refer to Appendix B, Table 2). A small percentage of CFCs are still imported for medical and laboratory use, which can be seen in import reports of CFCs recorded after January 1 1996. To ensure responsible importing of only allowed CFC products, imports are monitored by reports to the EPA. Import data is cross-checked …show more content…
(Welsh n.d.)
As a result of these harmful impacts, the Montreal Protocol has taken the liberty in phasing out the manufacturing and use of CFC’s, a prime example of evidence-based policy making. This can be seen in Appendix C, Graph 1 (from UNEP Ozone Secretariat) which depicts the deadlines for production and consumption of Ozone depleting substances such as CFCs, Halons, Methyl chloroform, HCFCs, and many more.
These organic compounds, CFCs, contain carbon, chlorine, and fluorine, produced as an unstable by-product of methane and ethane. While it was revealed that these Chlorofluorocarbons are among substances which deplete the ozone layer, it was found that one of the main elements that make up CFC’s is chlorine. As their usage grew enormously over the years, it was discovered that the ultraviolet radiation at this altitude breaks down CFCs, freeing the chlorine. (Welsh