Ozone for life: 35 years of ozone layer protection

The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer (or World Ozone Day) is celebrated annually on September 16. This designation was made by the United Nations General Assembly on December 19, 1994, in commemoration of the date, in 1987, on which nations signed the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. But before the Montreal Protocol came into existence, there was the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer.

In the late 1970s, scientists discovered the “hole” in the ozone layer, the important shield that protects the Earth form the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation. This hole – caused by chemicals known as ozone-depleting gases (ODSs) used in aerosols and cooling, such as refrigerators and air-conditioners – was threatening to increase cases of skin cancer and cataracts in humans, and damage to plants, crops, and ecosystems.

In response to this, the Vienna Convention was adopted in 1985 and aimed to promote cooperation among nations by exchanging information on the effects of human activities on the ozone layer. In doing so, the creators of the Convention envisaged that policymakers would adopt measures to combat those activities responsible for ozone depletion.

The Vienna Convention was the first international treaty of any kind to be signed by every country involved, reaching universal ratification in 2009. This speaks to the severity of the ozone depletion problem at the time and the willingness of countries around the world to work together to solve it. It did not, however, require countries to take control actions to protect the ozone layer. This would come later in the form of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

Under the Convention’s Montreal Protocol, governments, scientists and industry have worked together to eliminate almost 99% of all ozone-depleting substances and as a result, the ozone layer is healing and expected to return to its pre-1980 state by mid-century. Building on this success, the Kigali Amendment, which came into force in 2019, will work towards reducing hydrofluorocarbon (HFCs), greenhouse gases with powerful climate warming potential and damaging to the environment. In doing so, the Kigali Amendment will support the work of the Paris Agreement by avoiding almost 0.4 degrees Celsius of global warming this century. 

On this World Ozone Day 2020, Saint Lucia joins the rest of the world in celebrating 35 years of global ozone layer protection and the Vienna Convention which charted the way. 

‘Ozone for life’, let us all do our part to continue to protect the ozone layer and secure a healthy atmosphere for future generations.

Remember to be ozone and climate friendly.  Here’s how you can help:

Happy World Ozone Day from the Department of Sustainable Development!

For more information on the phase-out of ozone depleting substances in Saint Lucia, please contact the National Ozone Unit of the Department of Sustainable Development via telephone 468-5833/468-5804/468-5806.