South Africa joined the world in commemorating World Ozone Day on Tuesday, calling for more action to protect the ozone layer.
World Ozone Day, also known as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, is observed globally each year on Sept. 16.
“This day is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of ozone protection, while also highlighting it as an important key in the fight against climate change, as many of the ozone-depleting chemicals are potent greenhouse gases,” Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dion George said in a statement.
He noted that this year’s theme for World Ozone Day, “From Science to Global Action,” captures the scientific essence of the global ozone protection journey, while also remembering how the world united in response to the discovery in the 1970s and 1980s that human-made chemicals were severely thinning the ozone layer.
This thinning created the “ozone hole” over Antarctica, prompting countries from around the world to gather 40 years ago under the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, where they agreed to take appropriate measures to protect the ozone layer. The effort culminated in the 1987 signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
According to George, South Africa has made progress since then, with the ventilation, refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump industries adopting safer refrigerants, investing in sustainable technologies, and training employees in best practices while monitoring refrigerant use.
Furthermore, individuals and communities have become more conscious of their choices, contributing to ozone protection by choosing energy-efficient appliances, servicing air conditioners and refrigerators, and safely disposing of old equipment.
The minister called for more action, both collective and individual, to protect the ozone layer. “Much more needs to be done, and each one of us plays a part in securing a healthier atmosphere and the recovery of the ozone layer, not only for the present, but for the benefit of future generations,” he said.
The ozone layer is the invisible shield in the Earth’s stratosphere that absorbs most of the harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun, preventing them from reaching the surface and protecting humans, animals, plants, biodiversity, oceans, and ecosystems from extensive damage. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
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