How is the Bush Administration threatening the Montreal Protocol?
The United States has requested more critical use exemptions than all other countries combined. A total of 16,917 metric tonnes have been requested by 13 countries- the US request accounts for 9,920.986 tonnes. Of this amount, TEAP is recommending that 12,901 tonnes be approved- 8,942.207 tonnes in the US. An approval for the US request would cause a surge in worldwide use of Methyl Bromide. It would undermine the treaty and reverse the trend toward a cleaner, safer environment for everyone. There is the risk that other nations will follow suit with the US and fall short on their commitments to the Montreal Protocol. What Substances Were Targeted Under the Montreal Protocol? Ozone-depleting substances (ODS) include chlorine and bromine compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and Methyl Bromide. When they reach the stratosphere, which contains the ozone layer, the suns ultraviolet radiation causes the compounds to break down, freeing the chlorine and bromine to attack the ozone mol
