Media Center
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
‘’Let us take encouragement from how we have worked together to preserve the ozone layer and apply the same will to healing the planet and forging a brighter and more equitable future for all humanity.’’
-António Guterres, UN secretary general
The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer 2021 celebrates 36 years of ozone layer protection achieved through mutual decisions and actions steered by science. Hence, the theme of ozone day 2021 is:
Ozone for Life: 36 Years of Ozone Layer Protection
The 36 years of ozone layer protection started with the signing of the Vienna Convention in 1985 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Ozone Layer
The ozone layer shields the Earth from the harmful ultraviolet radiation (UV-A and UV-B) emitted by the Sun, helping preserve the ideal conditions for life on Earth. Harmful UV radiation is linked to skin cancer, cataracts and is harmful to marine and plants. Ozone layer is formed about 15 – 30 km above earth’s surface, in the stratosphere and it cover’s the whole planet. Ozone layer is formed by ozone molecules which contain three oxygen atoms. Ozone molecules are constantly created and destroyed in the ozone layer.
Ozone Hole
The ozone layer has been thinning due to the mass emission of ozone depleting substances (ODS) especially chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) from factories and other sources. ODSs react with ozone and destroy the ozone layer. The exceptionally depleted ozone region over the Antarctic in the Southern Hemisphere is known as the ozone hole. As much as carbon dioxide and methane, CFC and HCFC are also important greenhouse gases that help regulate the temperature on Earth. The contribution to global warming from these gases is smaller but still amount to around 5%.
The above figure indicates the progress of the ozone hole in the Southern hemisphere for 2021 in black spline line. The gray shaded background depicts the ozone hole area observed since 1979 in terms of highest and lowest values detected.
International Treaties on Ozone protection
International conventions were signed and put into action in order to prevent ozone layer depletion. Lately it has been found that the ozone layer is slowly recovering. The objective of the famed 1987 Montreal Protocol was to take actions to control the production and consumption of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS), globally. The latest agreement on ozone layer protection; Kigali Amendment (2016) pledged to reduce the consumption of Hydro-chlorofluorocarbons. These agreements not only help protect the ozone layer but also decelerate climate change and contribute to food security by helping to enhance energy efficiency in the cooling sector.
International treaties on Ozone protection:
- Vienna convention
- Montreal Protocol
- London Amendment
- Copenhagen Amendment
- Montreal Amendment
- Beijing Amendment
- Kigali Amendment
Source: UN Environment Programme | Ozone Secretariat
Ozone and Sri Lanka
The National Ozone Unit of Sri Lanka with due implementation of the protocols has been able to successfully reduce the consumption of ozone layer depleting agents. Some of the programs and services provided by the National Ozone Unit are as below.
- Air resource management unit
- HCFC phase-out management
- Control of import, export and production of ozone depleting substances
- Effects of ozone layer depletion
- Creating awareness among general public
- KIGALI cooling efficiency program – a program set up follow a meeting in Kigali, Rwanda
According to the graphs the consumption of ODS and HCFC from 2014 – 2016 has been well under the imposed limit levels for Sri Lanka, except for minor discrepancies around 2016.
Conclusion
Sri Lanka has been able to reduce CFC emissions well ahead of the given target period. And is continuing to phase-out on HCFC consumption effectively. Sri Lanka’s active participation in eliminating ozone depleting substances was recognized by the United Nations Ozone Secretariat and was awarded the ‘Implementer’s Award’ at the 20th Anniversary of the Montreal Protocol in 2007.
Although the Montreal convention was very successful in wiping-out CFC emissions, it has not been able to create a major impact on climate change due to some major countries like the USA, China, India and the EU not seeing eye-to-eye when it comes to policy making.
Therefore, it is our utmost duty to take actions to help preserve the ozone layer as the sole existence of humans as well as trees, plants and other animals depends on it.
