Māris kļaviņŠ, azamat azizov, JĀnis zaļoksnis environment, pollution, development: the case of uzbekistan

part of UV-B radiation is absorbed in the stratosphere.
The depletion of the ozone layer by 5% will substantially 
increase the intensity of UV-B and UV-C radiation reaching the 
Earth’s surface. It is estimated that the mortality rate from malignant 
skin diseases will increase by 20%. Increased UV radiation can 
affect the immune system, vision, cataract may become pervasive. 
The intensity of UV radiation may have an effect on the agricultural 
production and on the reproduction of living organisms in the World 
Ocean, especially plankton. Reduction in the growth of plankton, in 
turn, will affect the fish feed base. Furthermore, the impact on the 
Earth’s thermal balance may also be considerable.
The depletion of the ozone layer and increase in the intensity 
of UV radiation reaching the Earth’s surface have far-reaching 
consequences. Diminishing the negative effects of UV radiation has 
become one of the central objectives of environ mental protection 
policy. Suntan has for a long time been regarded as a sign of a 
healthy lifestyle and good health in general. However, today views 
about the healthfulness of sunbathing have radically changed. The 
production and use of various sunscreen cosmetic products and 
sunglasses that protect the skin and the eyes from UV radiation has 
been increasing.
To a considerable extent, the legislation restricting the ozone 
layer depletion had laid the foundations for further development 
of  an  effective  environ mental  law  system.  The  environ mental 
legislative acts drafted for the purpose to restrict the use of 
substances that destroy the ozone layer provide for various activities 
carried out on an international level, such as the ozone layer study 
and monitoring, phasing out the production of these substances, 
compensations to developing countries for the losses incurred due to 
the high costs of alternative technologies. The implementation of the 
relevant international laws has been successful – the use of ozone-
depleting substances has been significantly reduced (Figure 5.6), and 
alternative solutions have been developed in the sectors where the 
use of substances with properties analogous to freons is necessary. 
There are reasons to believe that the ozone layer recovery has 
already begun (this is also confirmed by recent measurements of the 
ozone layer), and the concentrations of ozone-degrading substances 
in the atmo sphere may noticeably decrease in the future.
Several legislative acts 
have been adopted with 
the aim to reduce the 
destructive effects of pol‑
lution on the ozone layer. 
The drafting of legislation 
pertaining to the ozone 
layer protection began in 
1985. The most important 
international treaty in this 
regard is the Montreal 
Protocol on Substances 
That Deplete the Ozone 
Layer (a protocol to the 
Vienna Convention of 
1985 for the Protection 
of the Ozone Layer) 
designed to restrict the 
production of these 
substances.

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5. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
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20 000
40 000
60 000
80 000
1986 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2007
Consumption, tons
Methyl bromide
Freon substitutes with low ODP
Halons
Freons