By Lanre Omotoso
As the world observes the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, Professor Oluwayemisi Arowosoge of the Department of Forest Resources and Wildlife Management, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, has called for more awareness and urgent action to safeguard the earth’s protective shield.
Speaking on the significance of the day with Radio Nigeria in Ado-Ekiti, Professor Arowosoge described the ozone layer as “a natural sunscreen” that protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet rays, saying its continuous depletion could lead to skin cancer, eye damage, more diseases and low crop yields.
The don stressed that it could also lead to climate change which resulted to global warming, high evaporation, erratic rainfall and flooding.
Professor Arowosoge, explained that harmful chemicals in old refrigerators, air conditioners, perfumes, insecticides, fire extinguisher and some cleaning agents release substances that break down the ozone layer.
She urged Nigerians to embrace safer and eco-friendly alternatives, stressing that protecting the ozone layer is a collective responsibility for present and future generations.
Professor Arowosoge advised companies to replace harmful coal and oil machines with renewable energies such as solar, wind and hydro as well as fossil fuel vehicles with electric cars.
She also called for strict laws against unnecessary bush burning and advocated planting of more trees, which store carbon and reduce greenhouse gas that caused global warming.
The United Nations set aside September 16 of every year as International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer to remind the world of the need to protect the environment, following a global agreement signed in 1987 to phase out such chemicals.
