On September 16, 2014 the UN celebrates the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.

What is the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer?

This observance day commemorates the date of the signing, in 1987, of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (an agreement designed to reduce the production and consumption of ozone depleting substances in order to reduce their abundance in the atmosphere, and thereby protect the earth’s fragile ozone Layer).

The aim of the day is for UN Member States to devote the Day to promote activities in accordance with the objectives of the Protocol and its amendments.

What is the Ozone Layer?

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 phase-out 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.

Ozone Day 2014

The Ozone Secretariat, which is hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme, has announced that the theme for this year’s celebration is “Ozone Layer Protection: The Mission Goes On”.

The Montreal Protocol has so far been successful in meeting some of its targets on phasing out ozone-depleting substances. As a result, the abundance of ozone-depleting substances in the atmosphere is declining and the ozone layer is expected to recover around the middle of this century. There are, however, some remaining challenges to the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances.

This year’s theme, which was selected following an online voting exercise, seeks to galvanize all stakeholders to increase their efforts to address the challenges.