International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer: 16th September
Thirty-one years ago, in 1994, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 16 September the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, commemorating the date of the signing, in 1987, of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
Our team of researchers mark this date, to celebrate the achievements made since 1987 to protect the ozone layer. The Montreal protocol is a shining example of success of just how much international cooperation at its best can achieve.
What is the Ozone Layer?
The ozone layer is 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.
Since 1987, the phaseout 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.
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There have been significant successes and international cooperation since 1987 in reducing the release of dangerous gases, and allowing the ozone layer to recover. There are ongoing concerns about the greenhouse gas effect and global warming. One area of concern is the spike in UK wildfire emissions driven by peatland fires in dry years. Our NetZeroPlus team member, Professor Richard Betts has recently co-authored a number of papers exploring the dangerous emissions from wildfires exacerbated by a changing climate, and the notion of ‘overshoot’ – where global warming of more than 1.5 degrees Celsius occurs.
The need for global consensus and action, as was so successfully achieved in 1987 seems urgent -in the words of António Guterres:
“On this World Ozone Day, let’s commit to making peace with our planet. Let’s commit to build on the success of the Montreal Protocol to show what international cooperation at its best can achieve.”