Tomorrow the world marks International Day for the preservation of the Ozone layer, a day that was proclaimed for the 16th of September every year by the United Nations General Assembly in 1994.
The day is set aside to commemorate the signing of the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer resolution 49/114.
The main aim of the protocol is to protect the ozone layer by taking measures that control total global production and consumption of substances that deplete it, the ultimate goal of their elimination being on the basis of developments in scientific knowledge and technological information.
The Ozone layer is a fragile shield of gas that is responsible for protecting the earth from the harmful portion of the sun’s rays thus helping preserve life on the planet.
United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres said about the protocol, “The Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment show us that by acting together, anything is possible.
“So let us cut now to slow climate change , feed the world’s hungry and protect the planet that we all depend on.”
As noted by the United Nations, International days and weeks are a time set aside to educate the public on issues of concern while also mobilising political will and resources to address global problems.
They also seek to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. International days’ existence predate the UN, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool.
