The World Assembly,
Aware that high levels of Ultraviolet Light, particularly in certain wavelengths, can be very harmful to many types of life-forms including [for example] both humans and bears,
Understanding that the presence of Ozone [i.e. tri-atomic Oxygen molecules] at a suitable level in a planet’s upper atmosphere can give life below significant protection against such harmful ultraviolet rays within incoming sunlight,
Recognising that certain chemicals which are sometimes used in industry, particularly various members of the Halogenated Hydrocarbons group, are likely to deplete that layer of Ozone and thus reduce its protective effects if they escape into the atmosphere,
Wishing to prevent such damage to the protective Ozone, acknowledging this as a potential problem of international scope, and hoping that concerted action on the matter by this organisation’s members not only will be useful in itself but also will encourage non-member nations to take similar action as well;
Hereby,
1). Requires all member nations to evaluate the potential Ozone-depleting properties of each and every chemical that their industries produce and/or use;
2). Strongly urges all member nations to reduce their production and use of all chemicals that are known to have serious Ozone-depleting properties, as far as possible, even in advance of any international regulations targeting the specific substances concerned;
3). Establishes within WASP an agency called the Atmospheric Chemistry Establishment (or ‘ACE’), requires that member nations share their information on Ozone depletion with ACE, and instructs ACE to _
A/ Collect data, and if necessary perform research, on the Ozone-depleting properties of all chemicals produced and used by industry;
B/ Discover what safer alternatives exist for any industrial chemicals that do have Ozone-depleting properties;
C/ Working with the International Meteorological Organisation (IMO), collect any necessary data on Ozone distribution and concentrations that national governments do not supply to ACE and the IMO anyway;
D/ Determine the relative levels of hazard that the different Ozone-depleting chemicals pose to atmospheric Ozone levels, bearing in mind both extent of usage and their own stability as well as their Ozone-depleting power per molecule;
E/ Share all of the above data with any governments, government agencies, or multinational businesses, that request it;
F/ Set deadlines (with scales of no less than four, and no more than twelve, years) by which all member nations are to phase out the production and use of specific Ozone-depleting chemicals by at least the ACE-specified levels, starting basically with the chemicals that pose the greatest hazards to atmospheric Ozone levels but also bearing in mind the importance of their uses and the availability of safer substitutes;
4). Requires all member nations to meet all deadlines that ACE sets for phasing out the production or use of any Ozone-depleting chemicals, unless they can prove to ACE that their handling of those chemicals occurs only within closed systems from which escapes cannot threaten any other nation’s atmosphere in which case ACE will grant them a waiver for as long as those conditions continue;
5). Urges member nations to do what they can, without increasing the risk of international conflict, to persuade non-member nations to cooperate with ACE as well.
