4
Introduction
1.2 The Ozone Layer
The other global problem occupying a central position III debates on the
Environment is the deteriorating ozone layer.
The capacity of CFC molecules to destroy ozone was shown in 1974, and in 1979
we were able to observe what is called the hole in the ozone layer. The latest results
presented by Professor Rowland show us that the ozone layer has been
diminishing from the 1970s on by from 5 to 10% each year. It is with great
pleasure that I learned in 1995 that Professors Sherwood Rowland (USA), Paul
Crutzen (Netherlands) and Mario Molina (Mexico) had received the Nobel Prize
for Chemistry for their discovery concerning the deteriorating ozone layer by
chemical agents, products of our industrial civilization.
Today it is felt that the harm has already been largely done, since most of the CFC
emitted by human action has not yet reached the higher atmosphere and has,
therefore, not yet produced its devastating effects on the ozone layer.
Nonetheless, having identified the evil, man can at least do his best to stop it from
spreading and from getting worse. This example shows that the harm caused to the
Environment by human action is often revealed late and, granted the inertia of the
climatological system, our information must be as exact as possible.
1.3 Biodiversity
I do want to take this opportunity to pay homage to the scientists who first
developed the idea of the diversity of genetic patrimony and whose vision was
particularly relevant and ambitious in light of the importance this concept has
today. Indeed in less than a decade, it resulted in the signing of a World
Convention on biodiversity.
Certainly France regrets that this Convention goes no farther along the road to
conservation and does not establish world lists, for example. However, the text
accords great importance to national strategies regarding the identification of the
components of biological diversity and to the scientific "watch", to measures and to
programs for protection as well as to setting up protected zones, and France
ratified this Convention.
May I recall here the significance accorded by France to the DIVERSITAS
program carried out on UNESCO initiative and whose aim it is to acquire an indepth scientific knowledge in the area of biological diversity.
2
THE ENVIRONMENT: A PLURIDISCIPLINARY FIELD
2.1 Pluridisciplinary aspects
For some years now, environment problems have changed in scale, in nature, in
urgency, and their complexity, that ranges from the local to the global, leads to a
growing demand for scientific data and databases, for prediction models and to
developing technological and industrial research in order to control the ecological
and economic blockages caused by this change.
Introduction
1.2 The Ozone Layer
The other global problem occupying a central position III debates on the
Environment is the deteriorating ozone layer.
The capacity of CFC molecules to destroy ozone was shown in 1974, and in 1979
we were able to observe what is called the hole in the ozone layer. The latest results
presented by Professor Rowland show us that the ozone layer has been
diminishing from the 1970s on by from 5 to 10% each year. It is with great
pleasure that I learned in 1995 that Professors Sherwood Rowland (USA), Paul
Crutzen (Netherlands) and Mario Molina (Mexico) had received the Nobel Prize
for Chemistry for their discovery concerning the deteriorating ozone layer by
chemical agents, products of our industrial civilization.
Today it is felt that the harm has already been largely done, since most of the CFC
emitted by human action has not yet reached the higher atmosphere and has,
therefore, not yet produced its devastating effects on the ozone layer.
Nonetheless, having identified the evil, man can at least do his best to stop it from
spreading and from getting worse. This example shows that the harm caused to the
Environment by human action is often revealed late and, granted the inertia of the
climatological system, our information must be as exact as possible.
1.3 Biodiversity
I do want to take this opportunity to pay homage to the scientists who first
developed the idea of the diversity of genetic patrimony and whose vision was
particularly relevant and ambitious in light of the importance this concept has
today. Indeed in less than a decade, it resulted in the signing of a World
Convention on biodiversity.
Certainly France regrets that this Convention goes no farther along the road to
conservation and does not establish world lists, for example. However, the text
accords great importance to national strategies regarding the identification of the
components of biological diversity and to the scientific "watch", to measures and to
programs for protection as well as to setting up protected zones, and France
ratified this Convention.
May I recall here the significance accorded by France to the DIVERSITAS
program carried out on UNESCO initiative and whose aim it is to acquire an indepth scientific knowledge in the area of biological diversity.
2
THE ENVIRONMENT: A PLURIDISCIPLINARY FIELD
2.1 Pluridisciplinary aspects
For some years now, environment problems have changed in scale, in nature, in
urgency, and their complexity, that ranges from the local to the global, leads to a
growing demand for scientific data and databases, for prediction models and to
developing technological and industrial research in order to control the ecological
and economic blockages caused by this change.