International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

The ozone in the stratosphere is responsible for absorbing a significant portion of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, which is harmful to life. That is why it is crucial to preserve this ozone layer. However, there is ozone that is considered harmful, and it is the one found in excess on the Earth’s surface, which is detrimental to living beings.

The ozone layer is a fragile gas layer that protects life on the planet from the harmful effects of solar radiation and is endangered due to the past use of certain chemicals. In the 1980s, numerous commonly used products contained substances that were highly harmful to the ozone, resulting in a significant depletion of the ozone layer on Earth. The most well-known are CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons).

The term “ozone hole” appeared in a scientific article by the British Antarctic Survey in May 1985, discussing the issue of ozone layer depletion.

In 1985, the international community tried to eliminate these chemical substances that endangered life on Earth. This effort materialized in the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, which was approved and signed by 28 countries on March 22, 1985.

In 1987, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was drafted. It aimed to control and phase out the production and consumption of over 100 harmful chemical substances that deplete the ozone layer.

On September 16, 1987, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed. In commemoration of this event, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed September 16 as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.

In this year 2023, we celebrate the 36th anniversary of the adoption of the Montreal Protocol, one of the most successful environmental agreements that demonstrated the effectiveness of international cooperation. Currently, there has been a significant reduction in the amount of ultraviolet radiation from the sun reaching the Earth. Additionally, the ozone layer is gradually recovering, allowing for the protection of life on the planet.