On September 16, 1987, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed. In honor of this event, the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer was established.
The 2024 theme is Montreal Protocol: Stepping up the fight against climate change.
Today, ozone-depleting substances are used in various fields: as refrigerants in industrial and commercial refrigeration equipment, in air conditioners, in fire extinguishers, as solvents in production, in analytical reagents and for quarantine treatment in agriculture.
The level of ozone in the atmosphere increases by an average of 2% per decade, but the adoption of the Montreal Protocol and compliance with its terms have already yielded positive results. If all countries adhere to the protocol and its amendments, we can expect the atmosphere to be completely cleared of ozone-depleting substances by 2100.
By following the protocol, humanity not only manages to prevent a global catastrophe, but also achieves sustainable restoration of the ozone layer on the planet.
