By Daryl George
September 16 marked another celebration of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, also known as World Ozone Day.
The observance was first designated by the UN in 1994, commemorating the date in 1987 when the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed.
This important agreement was necessary due to the depletion of the ozone layer that occurred from Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and the need to combat this.
The theme this year was “Montreal Protocol: Advancing Climate Action”.
What is the ozone layer?
The ozone layer or ozone shield is a region of the Earth’s stratosphere that absorbs most of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The ozone layer was first identified in 1913 by French physicists Charles Fabry and Henry Buisson.
The ozone layer absorbs 97 to 99 percent of the sun’s medium-frequency UV light that would otherwise potentially damage life forms near to the earth’s surface. Therefore, a breakdown of the ozone would allow for dangerous UV radiation to reach the Earth’s surface at a higher intensity.
Through a paper published in 1985, it was confirmed that there was an annual depletion of the ozone layer. This prompted the passing of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer.
This was later followed up by the passing of the Montreal Protocol, which was later amended to include the banning of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which are man-made compounds that break down ozone in the atmosphere.
The efforts to reduce the depletion of the ozone layer are one of the clearest examples of climate action making a difference. The Vienna Protocol and the Montreal Protocol became the first treaties to achieve universal ratification in 2009.
By 2003, it was shown that the depletion of the ozone layer had slowed considerably. And by 2017, 30 years after the passing of the Montreal Protocol, the holes in the ozone layer were observed to be recovering. The ozone layer is expected to recover to pre-1980 levels around the middle of the century.
How to commemorate International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
Even with the successes by governments worldwide in slowing and reversing the depletion of the ozone layer, it is important for individuals to understand that they too have a role to play in continuing to preserve the ozone layer.
So how can you celebrate the day? Here are a few tips:
- Learn more about the ozone layer and ozone layer depletion, including the effects on our climate.
- Spread awareness of this topic through your own channels, whether that be word of mouth, social media, or through other methods.
- Online – use the hashtag #WorldOzoneDay to join the conversation and provide your own feedback.
- Join the fight against climate change – although we have made significant steps in reversing the damage done to the ozone layer, there is still a lot of work to do in the ongoing climate crisis. Doing simple things such as reducing your carbon emissions by walking or cycling to home or work will make a big difference in saving our climate.
