LocationsUzbekistan celebrates 36 years of significant achievements of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
September 15, 2023
Thirty-six years ago, the world was at risk of losing its ozone layer which protects the planet and all life on it from the harmful levels of ultraviolet radiation from the sun. The layer was being destroyed by industrial-era man-made chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons, methyl bromide and carbon tetrachloride, putting all life at risk of extinction.
On December 19, 1994, the UN General Assembly proclaimed September 16 as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. It was linked with the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987, which regulates the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances. The ozone layer protects us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays and the Montreal Protocol is considered to be a successful environmental agreement ratified by all 198 UN member states.
“Fortunately, the global community has proven that it can unite and take concerted joint action in the face of a common threat,"
said Anas Fayyad Qarman, the UNDP Resident Representative a.i. in Uzbekistan, in his opening speech.
The UN Secretary-General states that international treaties to protect the ozone layer have made a significant contribution to the safety of people and the planet. He proposes limiting global warming to 1.5°C and urges leaders to support the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. This could avoid up to 0.5°C of warming by 2100. He also calls on countries to ratify the Amendment and to come together with business, civil society and academia to implement concrete changes. The goal is to build a world where all succeed together.
The theme for the 2023 International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is Montreal Protocol@36: fixing the ozone layer and reducing climate change. World environmental treaties, such as the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol, must be successful to ensure a favorable environment. Global cooperation is necessary to protect life on Earth for ourselves and the generations to come.
In Uzbekistan, the achievements were marked at a series of events, including a demonstration project to replace air conditioning systems with energy-efficient and ozone-friendly chillers in partnership with the Jizzakh branch of Emergency Medical Services, organized jointly with the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Khokimiyat of Jizzakh region and UNDP within the dedicated project funded by the Global Environment Facility. This demo project will create comfortable conditions for more than ten thousand patients per year.
As part of series of events on International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, together with Ministry of Public Education, lessons on the importance of ozone layer protection were conducted throughout the country. We believe, schoolchildren’s ecological knowledge is crucial to reinforcing our joint efforts in taking care of the environment.
