why do we celebrate mario molina

Mario Molina is celebrated primarily for his groundbreaking scientific discovery that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) deplete the Earth's ozone layer, which protects the planet from harmful ultraviolet radiation. His research, published in 1974 alongside his colleague F. Sherwood Rowland, alerted the world to the environmental threat posed by CFCs commonly found in aerosol sprays and refrigeration. This discovery directly contributed to the creation of the Montreal Protocol, a global agreement to phase out CFCs, helping to protect the ozone layer. For this crucial work, Mario Molina received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1995. Besides his scientific achievements, Molina is honored for his environmental advocacy and efforts to address climate change, serving as an advisor on science and technology to U.S. presidents and leading research centers in both the United States and Mexico. He was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013. Molina is viewed as a visionary scientist who not only advanced scientific knowledge but also helped translate science into global policy action to protect the environment, making his legacy significant in both science and public service contexts.