International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer 2020

Date: 16 September 2020

location: worldwide

In 1994, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 16 September the International Day for the
Preservation of the Ozone Layer, commemorating the date of the signing, in 1987, of the
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (resolution 49/114). The
principal aim of the Montreal Protocol is to protect the ozone layer by taking measures to control
total global production and consumption of substances that deplete it, with the ultimate objective
of their elimination on the basis of developments in scientific knowledge and technological
information.

The ozone layer, a fragile shield of gas, protects the Earth from the harmful portion of the rays of
the sun, thus helping preserve life on the planet.

The phaseout of controlled uses of ozone depleting substances and the related reductions have
not only helped protect the ozone layer for this and future generations, but have also contributed
significantly to global efforts to address climate change; furthermore, it has protected human
health and ecosystems by limiting the harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching the Earth.

“As we rightly focus our energies on tackling climate change, we must be careful not to neglect
the ozone layer and stay alert to the threat posed by the illegal use of ozone-depleting gases”.

António Guterres, UN Secretary General

Ozone for life: 35 years of ozone layer protection

This year, we celebrate 35 years of the Vienna Convention and 35 years of global ozone layer
protection. Life on Earth would not be possible without sunlight. But the energy emanating from
the sun would be too much for life on Earth to thrive were it not for the ozone layer. This
stratospheric layer shields Earth from most of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation. Sunlight
makes life possible, but the ozone layer makes life as we know it possible.

So, when scientists working in the late 1970s discovered that humanity was creating a hole in
this protective shield, they raised the alarm. The hole – caused by ozone-depleting gases (ODSs)
used in aerosols and cooling, such as refrigerators and air-conditioners – was threatening to
increase cases of skin cancer and cataracts, and damage plants, crops, and ecosystems.

The global response was decisive. In 1985, the world’s governments adopted the Vienna
Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. Under the Convention’s Montreal Protocol,
governments, scientists and industry worked together to cut out 99 per cent of all ozone-
depleting substances. Thanks to the Montreal Protocol, the ozone layer is healing and expected to
return to pre-1980 values by mid-century. In support of the Protocol, the Kigali Amendment,
which came into force in 2019, will work towards reducing hydrofluorocarbon (HFCs),
greenhouse gases with powerful climate warming potential and damaging to the environment.

World Ozone Day, held on September 16, celebrates this achievement. It shows that collective
decisions and action, guided by science, are the only way to solve major global crises. In this
year of the COVID-19 pandemic that has brought such social and economic hardship, the ozone
treaties’ message of working together in harmony and for the collective good is more important
than ever. The slogan of the day, ‘Ozone for life’, reminds us that not only is ozone crucial for
life on Earth, but that we must continue to protect the ozone layer for future generations.

Background

A number of commonly used chemicals have been found to be extremely damaging to the ozone
layer. Halocarbons are chemicals in which one or more carbon atoms are linked to one or more
halogen atoms (fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine). Halocarbons containing bromine usually
have much higher ozone-depleting potential (ODP) than those containing chlorine. The man-
made chemicals that have provided most of the chlorine and bromine for ozone depletion are
methyl bromide, methyl chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and families of chemicals known as
halons, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).

Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer

The scientific confirmation of the depletion of the ozone layer prompted the international
community to establish a mechanism for cooperation to take action to protect the ozone layer.
This was formalized in the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, which was
adopted and signed by 28 countries, on 22 March 1985. In September 1987, this led to the
drafting of The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

Montreal Protocol
In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 16 September the International Day for the
Preservation of the Ozone Layer, commemorating the date of the signing, in 1987, of the Montreal
Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (resolution 49/114).

Implementation of the Montreal Protocol

Implementation of the Montreal Protocol progressed well in developed and developing countries.
All phase-out schedules were adhered to in most cases, some even ahead of schedule. Attention
focused initially on chemicals with higher ozone-depletion potentials including CFCs and halons.
The phase-out schedule for HCFCs was more relaxed due to their lower ozone-depletion
potentials and because they have also been used as transitional substitutes for CFCs.

The HCFC phase-out schedule was introduced in 1992 for developed and developing countries,
the latter with a freeze in 2015, and final phase-out by 2030 in developed countries and 2040 in
developing countries. In 2007, Parties to the Montreal Protocol decided to accelerate the HCFC
phase-out schedule for both developed and developing countries.
Universal ratification

On 16th September 2009, the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol became the first
treaties in the history of the United Nations to achieve universal ratification.

Kigali Amendment

The Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer reached
agreement at their 28th Meeting of the Parties on 15 October 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda to phase-
down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

UN Environment Programme

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental
authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the
environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and
serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

Global Issues: Climate Change

Climate Change is the defining issue of our time and we are at a defining moment. From shifting
weather patterns that threaten food production, to rising sea levels that increase the risk of
catastrophic flooding, the impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in
scale. Without drastic action today, adapting to these impacts in the future will be more difficult
and costly.

Why do we mark International Days?

International days are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political
will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of
humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations,
but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN
observances.

Why do we mark International Days?

International days are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political
will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of
humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations,
but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN
observances.
Ozone Science

What is ozone?

Ozone is a special form of oxygen with the chemical formula O3. The oxygen we breathe and
that is so vital to life on earth is O2. Ozone constitutes a very small part of our atmosphere, but
its presence is nevertheless vital to human well-being. Most ozone resides high up in the
atmosphere, between 10 and 40km above Earth's surface. This region is called the stratosphere
and it contains about 90% of all the ozone in the atmosphere.

Why do we care about atmospheric ozone?

Ozone in the stratosphere absorbs some of the Sun’s biologically harmful ultraviolet radiation.
Because of this beneficial role, stratospheric ozone is considered “good” ozone. In contrast,
excess ozone at Earth’s surface that is formed from pollutants is considered “bad” ozone because
it can be harmful to humans, plants, and animals. The ozone that occurs naturally near the
surface and in the lower atmosphere is also beneficial because ozone helps remove pollutants
from the atmosphere.

The hole in the ozone layer

Following the publication of the findings of a British Antarctic Survey article in May 1985, the
phenomenon of ozone depletion over Antarctica was referred to as the "ozone hole", a phrase
first attributed to Nobel Prize winner Sherwood Rowland. The satellite image of the ozone hole
has become a global symbol of this environmental threat that has helped mobilize public support
for the Montreal Protocol. The work of atmospheric scientists and environmental researchers
continues to play a paramount role in informing the policymaking under the Montreal Protocol.
Images and scientific bulletins about ozone depletion are useful communication tools to the
public about progress made and challenges ahead.

Latest ozone measurements

 Global ozone map Meteorological Service of Canada & Environment Canada

 Status of the ozone layer over the South Pole NASA Ozone Watch

Some Ozone Depleting Substances in Different Industry Sectors

Aerosols, Sterilants and Carbon Tetrachloride

CFCs are used in aerosol products, as sterilants of medical equipment, and in a range of
miscellaneous applications including food freezing, tobacco expansion, fumigation and cancer
therapy. Carbon tetrachloride is used as a feedstock in the production of CFC-11 and CFC-12, in
the production of key pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals, and as a catalyst promoter.
CFCs and carbon tetrachloride are ozone depleting substances whose production and
consumption is controlled under the Montreal Protocol. With support from the Protocol's
Multilateral Fund delivered by UNEP, UNDP, UNIDO, the World Bank and bilateral agencies,
developing countries are phasing out these ozone depleting chemicals in this sector.

Foams

CFCs have been used extensively in the manufacture of polyurethane, phenolic, polystyrene and
polyolefin foam polymers, used in many different products. Common blowing agents have
included CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC-113 and CFC-114. CFCs are ozone depleting substances whose
production and consumption is controlled under the Montreal Protocol. With support from the
Protocol's Multilateral Fund delivered by UNEP, UNDP, UNIDO, the World Bank and bilateral
agencies, developing countries are phasing out these ozone depleting chemicals in this sector.

Halons

Halon 1211 has been widely used in portable fire extinguishers. Halon 1301 has seen widespread
use in fixed systems throughout the industrial, commercial, marine, defence, and aviation
industries. Halon 2402 has primarily been used in the defence, industrial, marine and aviation
sector in some countries. Halons are ozone depleting substances whose production and
consumption is controlled under the Montreal Protocol. With support from the Protocol's
Multilateral Fund delivered by UNEP, UNDP, UNIDO, the World Bank and bilateral agencies,
developing countries are phasing out these ozone depleting chemicals in this sector.

The strategy for the halon sector essentially consists of two approaches: replacing halons with
alternatives, and halon banking. Alternatives to halons include halocarbon alternatives, inert
gases, water mist, fine particulate aerosols and streaming agents. In some cases, fire protection
strategies may be re-considered and the need for halons eliminated. Halon banking, which
includes recovery, recycling and establishing inventories, is used by companies and countries for
managing existing halon supplies to cover remaining critical uses.

Halons are used primarily as fire extinguishing agents, both in built-in systems and in portable
fire extinguishers. ... The most commonly used halons are halon-1211 (CBrClF2), halon-1301
(CBrF3), and halon-2402 (C2Br2F4). The numbering system for the halons is different but more
simple than for that of the CFCs.

HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons)

HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons) are widely used in the refrigeration, foam, solvent, aerosol
and fire fighting sectors as a transitional substance to substitute CFCs. HCFCs are also used as
feedstock (raw material) in the production for other chemical products. HCFCs were introduced
in the 1990s as alternative chemicals for CFCs and added to the list of substances controlled by
the Montreal Protocol. It was acknowledged at the time that these chemicals, with considerably
lower ozone depleting potentials (ODP), were transitional and their production and consumption
was also to be phased out under the Montreal Protocol. Although having considerably lower
ozone depleting potentials than CFCs, many HCFCs have high global warming potentials, of up
to 2000 times that of carbon dioxide.
In 2006 global HCFC production was 34,400 ODP tonnes and approximately 75% of global
HCFC use is in air-conditioning and refrigeration sectors. The main HCFC used is HCFC-22 or
chlorodifluoromethane. At the 20th anniversary meeting of the Montreal Protocol on Substances
that Deplete the Ozone layer agreement was reached to adjust the Montreal Protocol's HCFC
phase out schedule to accelerate the phase-out of production and consumption of HCFCS. This
decision will result in a significant reduction in ozone depletion and well as in global warming.

Methyl bromide

Methyl bromide is widely used as a fumigant in agriculture, for pest control in structures and
stored commodities, and for quarantine treatments. Fumigation is a technique that allows the gas
to reach pests which are in soil, in durables, in perishables, and in structures and vehicles. This
chemical controls a wide range of pests, including pathogens (fungi, bacteria and soilborne
viruses), insects, mites, nematodes and rodents. Methyl bromide is an ozone depleting substance
that is controlled under the Montreal Protocol. With support from the Protocol's Multilateral
Fund and the Global Environment Facility, developing countries and countries with economies
in transition are reducing and ultimately phasing out their consumption of this chemical.

Use of methyl bromide can be reduced and eliminated by adopting alternatives, which have been
identified for more than 90 percent of applications. These include chemicals, non-chemical
measures - - including Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - or a combination of both.

Solvents, Coatings & Adhesives

In the past, CFC-113 use was essential in many industrial applications: in electronic assembly
production processes, precision cleaning and general metal degreasing during manufacture, as
well as in dry cleaning and other industrial applications. CFC-113 began to be used in the 1970s
in metal degreasing and other areas owing to concern over the toxicity of the chlorinated solvents
used previously. For many years 1,1,1-trichloroethane was the solvent of choice to replace other
more toxic chlorinated solvents for general metal cleaning. Carbon tetrachloride is no longer
used as a solvent in most countries because of its toxicity, but it is still used in some parts of the
world.

CFC-113, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, CTC, and bromochloromethane are ozone depleting substances

whose production and consumption is controlled under the Montreal Protocol. With support from
the Protocol's Multilateral Fund delivered by UNEP, UNDP, UNIDO, the World Bank and
bilateral agencies, developing countries are phasing out these ozone depleting chemicals in this
sector.

SOME QUESTIONS

1. What is meant by World Ozone Day?

Ans: On September 16, 1987, the United Nations and 45 other countries signed the Montreal
Protocol, on substances that deplete the Ozone layer. ... Every year this day is celebrated as the
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone layer.Sep 16, 2019
 2. Which day is known as ozone day?

Ans:16 September

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, 16 September.

3. How do we celebrate Ozone Day?

Ans: The United Nations' (UN) International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is celebrated
on September 16 every year. This event commemorates the date of the signing of the Montreal Protocol
on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1987.

4. What is the theme of Ozone Day 2019?

How can we protect the ozone layer?

1. Avoid the consumption of gases dangerous to the ozone layer, due to their content or
manufacturing process. ...
2. Minimize the use of cars. ...
3. Do not use cleaning products that are harmful to the environment and to us. ...
4. Buy local products.

What is the importance of ozone day?

Every year this day is celebrated as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone layer.
The purpose of the Montreal Protocol is to protect the Ozone layer by reducing the production
of substances that are supposed to be responsible for Ozone layer depletion.

How do schools celebrate Ozone Day?

The teachers told the students that they can protect the ozone layer by recycling, planting, and
not using electronics that will have a negative effect on the ozone layer. Once the teachers
finished their speeches, the students watched educational videos about the ozone layer.

How can we protect the ozone layer?

1. Avoid the consumption of gases dangerous to the ozone layer, due to their content or
manufacturing process. ...
2. Minimize the use of cars. ...
3. Do not use cleaning products that are harmful to the environment and to us. ...
4. Buy local products.
 When was the ozone hole discovered?
1985
In 1985, Joe Farman, Brian Gardiner and Jonathan Shanklin reported 1 unanticipated
and large decreases in stratospheric ozone levels over the Antarctic stations of Halley
and Faraday.

What is meant by ozone layer?

The ozone layer or ozone shield is a region of Earth's stratosphere that absorbs most of the Sun's
ultraviolet radiation. It contains a high concentration of ozone (O3) in relation to other parts of
the atmosphere, although still small in relation to other gases in the stratosphere.

How did we fix the ozone hole?

The ozone layer, which protects us from ultraviolet light, looks to be successfully healing after
gaping holes were discovered in the 1980s. The Northern Hemisphere could be fully fixed by the
2030s and Antarctica by the 2060s. ... The ozone layer had been damaged by man-made
chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Has the ozone hole closed?

Now that the intense polar vortex has ended, the ozone hole has closed. CAMS said Monday
that it does not expect the same conditions to occur next year. The unprecedented 2020 northern
hemisphere #OzoneHole has come to an end.

CAMS: Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS).