A new study conducted at the University of Eastern Finland draws a stark comparison between the current global response to greenhouse gas emissions and the swift action taken against ozone-depleting chemicals back in the 1980s.
Building upon the work of sociologist Ulrich Beck, the paper suggests that the slow response to greenhouse gases stems in part from a perception within Global North countries that it is possible to outsource the risks and uncertainties that their economic activities create.
Authored by Docent in Ecological Economic History Jan Kunnas, the paper argues that the response to greenhouse gases can credibly be described as a history of delays. It has been nearly 70 years since global warming was first recognised as a potential problem. Despite this, adequate global actions are still lacking. In contrast, the discovery of the ozone hole back in 1985 led to swift international action, preventing catastrophic damage to the Earth’s ozone layer. Kunnas points out that the Global North found it difficult to distance itself from the effects of ozone depletion, as the increase in UV radiation was most severe in areas closest to the poles, including Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. The term “ozone hole” evoked vivid images and fears of cancer, reducing the ability for psychological distancing. This anxiety spurred rapid action to limit substances that destroy the ozone layer.
The paper also highlights the commercial interests that have influenced the response to these environmental issues.
“While alternatives to ozone destroying chlorofluorocarbons, CFCs, proved profitable, the fossil fuel industry has extended its unsustainable practices and employed tactics to delay effective climate change mitigation by, e.g., sowing uncertainty about climate change and rising scepticism towards scientific knowledge,” Kunnas says.
He calls for a commitment to addressing climate change with the same urgency that was applied to the ozone crisis. The severe wildfire season in the Western United States in 2020 highlighted that major greenhouse gas emitters can no longer distance themselves from the consequences of climate change. Similar catastrophic fires in Australia, Canada and Russia have underscored this point. Perhaps therefore, the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in 2023 in Dubai resulted in the first resolution to phase out fossil fuels globally, signalling a potential watershed moment.
“Humanity did not wait for the discovery of the ‘ozone hole’ to act on ozone depleting chemicals. The lesson for other chemical substances is clear: we must act on weak environmental signals and seek solutions already when problems are uncertain. It is crucial to minimise the time between recognising emerging problems and implementing concrete mitigation strategies. Proactive research funding and sensitive forecasting systems are essential for anticipating weak environmental signals and developing solutions,” Kunnas points out
According to Kunnas, there is a need for a moratorium on the use of new compounds or their mixtures until the backlog of substances currently on the market without risk or safety evaluation is cleared. This requires a coordinated global effort and a new science-policy regulatory framework, similar to the IPCC. Kunnas stresses that stricter environmental regulations can drive innovation and benefit both companies and the public.
For further information, please contact:
Jan Kunnas jan.kunnas@uef.fi
The open access article Planetary risk society: from ignored problems to fast solutions is available here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02692171.2024.2417006
