Protect the ozone layer

Climate change is high on the world agenda right now and protecting the ozone (O3) layer should be considered as one of the most important segments of this agenda.

The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, also known as World Ozone Day, is commemorated on September 16. The theme for this year is ‘Montreal Protocol - Global partnership for global results’.

The international day was declared by the UN General Assembly on December 19, 1994, to commemorate the date of signing, in 1987, of the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer.

Countries were encouraged to devote the day to promote activities which contributed to this objective.

Significant action has been taken over the years to reduce ozone depleting substances in the environment. According to the Montreal Protocol, developing countries agreed to reduce CFC sources by 50 per cent by 2005 and see their total elimination by 2010.

These nations have been helped to achieve standards in reducing production and consumption of ozone depleting substances. More than 1.5 million tonnes of such substances have now been permanently eliminated. CFC levels have been brought down significantly, but the full recovery of the ozone layer is expected to take another 50-100 years.