Every year September 16 is celebrated as World Ozone Layer Day. This day is also known as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.
World Ozone Day is celebrated as a remembrance day. In the year 1987 on this day the Montreal Protocol on Substances depleting the Ozone Layer was signed. This day is also observed as an awareness day on why and how the depletion of the Ozone Layer must be prevented.
Theme of World Ozone Day
The theme of World Ozone Day 2022 is “Global cooperation protecting life on earth.”
This International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, let us promise ourselves a longer and healthier life. Switch to reduce practices that harm the ozone layer.#worldozoneday #ozoneday #ozonelayerday#ozoneeffect #saveozonelayer #stopozonedepletion #stopdepletion pic.twitter.com/MMliJ1hgPq
— RSPCB (@RSPCB_official) September 15, 2022
History of World Ozone Day
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared September 16 as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer On December 19, 1994.
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.
The main purpose of the Montreal Protocol was to protect the Ozone layer. It is done by reducing the production of substances that are supposed to be responsible for harming and promoting Ozone Layer Depletion.
35 years ago, the Montreal Protocol was born to protect the earth’s #ozonelayer. #WorldOzoneDay will be commemorated this Friday, September 16, under the theme "Global cooperation protecting life on earth" pic.twitter.com/UjXXK5GNOX
— National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) (@nemaug) September 14, 2022
Significance of World Ozone Day
Ozone layer is a stratospheric layer that guards earth against the harmful side effects of ultraviolet radiation from the sun. The harmful ultraviolet rays are effectively shielded because of the presence of Ozone in the atmosphere.
If the Ozone Layer gets depleted completely it will cause serious damage to living beings and to our planet. If we come in direct contact with UV rays, it can cause harmful diseases like skin cancer.
Snow blindness, skin aging and cataract are other consequences of harm that occur due to direct contact of ultraviolet rays.
As A Result of various human activities, chemicals like chlorine and bromine atoms that are released into the atmosphere are very much responsible for the depletion of the Ozone layer. The hole in the ozone layer finally sealed due to consistent efforts.
The Ozone depletion factor was assessed in 2018, and it showed a remarkable improvement in the status of Ozone health. The situation of climate change has also reversed to some extent but still more work needs to be done.
Every year, a high surge of heat waves and high temperatures are recorded across the whole world. If we don’t take care of our environment it will collapse.
Ways to Protect the Ozone Layer
We can make a few that can make a huge impact in protection of depleting Ozone Layers.
- We need to stop the consumption of harmful chemicals like CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), halogenated hydrocarbons, methyl bromide and nitrous oxide.
- We need to minimize the use of cleaning products. The cleaning products contain solvents and substances that are harmful and pollute our environment. We can replace these dangerous substances with non-toxic products such as vinegar or bicarbonate which cause no harm to the environment.
- Instead of using more cars and private transport, we should switch to electric and public transport. These kinds of vehicles cause little to no damage to the environment.
