25 Years of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

September 10, 2012

Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, September 16, 2012

On September 16, 2012, Moscow and Saint-Petersburg will celebrate the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer and the 25th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer. This environmental event is widely celebrated all over the world: members of government, scientists and experts make speeches; tele and radio channels broadcast programs dedicated to the protection of the ozone layer; newspapers and magazines print articles; topical web-sites get launched; students and pupils attend numerous workshops. For additional information, please, go to https://www.ozoneprogram.ru/biblioteka/publikacii/prazdnovanie_dnja_ozona/. By tradition, the official address of the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon dedicated to the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is expected to be sent to UN member countries.

The celebration of this event in our country was initiated in 2011 by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as part of the Project for ODS phase out in the Russian Federation implemented at the expense of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) with support of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation.

About the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

On September 16, 1987, 46 countries signed the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, a document requiring member countries to limit on a step-by-step basis, and then completely phase out production and use of ODSs. By today 197 countries have ratified the Protocol, that is all the UN member countries. The Montreal Protocol proved to be the most successful international environmental treaty, and in 1994 the UN General Assembly proclaimed September 16 the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer commemorating the date of its signing.

The motto of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is “Save Our Sky: Protect Yourself, Protect the Ozone Layer”. This event should be dedicated to the promotion of activities related to objects and goals of the Montreal Protocol.

The ozone layer protects the Earth from the hazardous effect of UV radiation, so its depletion would do irreparable harm to the biosphere.

Currently, the Russian Federation is phasing out ODSs—hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC). By 2015, their consumption and production should be reduced by 90 % These substances are still widely used as refrigerants in industrial and domestic air-conditioners (more than 8 million of HCFC-containing appliances are in operation now), in industrial and commercial refrigerating equipment, foam agents used in heat insulation of domestic refrigerators (up to 40 % of appliances in operation), sandwich panels, and solvents. Today the Russian Government is working on limiting ODS use in accordance with the Montreal Protocol and legislation of the Russian Federation and Customs Union. To that end, industrial plants receive support in conversion to manufacture of ozone-safe products; the destruction system for ODSs and ODS-containing products is under development; measures to prevent illicit traffic of these substances are taken (by FCS and MOI), etc.

Celebrating the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer in Russia

The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer was first celebrated on the base of the Engineering College No. 19 (www.проф2.рф, www.prof2.ru). The college is one of the few Russian public educational institutions engaged in training of AC installation and servicing, ventilation as well as industrial and commercial refrigeration specialists, with great attention to ODS destruction issues. It is well known that the Earth ozone layer is seriously harmed by substances contained just in domestic and industrial refrigerating systems, i.e. HCFCs which are currently being phased out and CFCs which were phased out earlier. It is impossible for the Russian Federation to fulfill its commitments under international treaties on phase out of ODSs without implementation of a certification system for specialists working with HCFCs and organization of training for those specialists on environmentally-safe operating procedures.

In 2012, the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer will be celebrated in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg:

 A workshop on conversion of ODS-containing equipment (HCFC-22) to ozone-safe refrigerants and on environmentally-safe ODS destruction was held for lecturers of specialized educational institutions and students on September 3–7 in Moscow. The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, UNIDO, the District Tutorial Center of the Eastern Administrative Okrug of Moscow, and Engineering College No. 19 with support of GREE and Euroklimat.
 On September 14, the Eastern Administrative okrug will hold competition “Protect the Ozone Layer” where works of 4–11-year pupils will be presented in nominations “Video clip and presentation”, “Poster”, “Holiday or classroom hour scenario, fairy tale, story”, “Project and Abstract Works”. The competition organizers are: the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, UNIDO, the District Tutorial Center of the Eastern Administrative Okrug of Moscow, and Engineering College No. 19.
 On September 17, in the Institute of Refrigeration and Biotechnologies of the Saint-Petersburg National Research University of Information, Mechanics and Optics, competition “Protect the Ozone Layer” will take place as part of which international scientific and technical conference “25^th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol” will be organized. The best works will be awarded in nominations “Scientific research”, “Project”, “Abstract”, “Video clip”, “Presentation”, “Poster”, “Interactive script” and the workshops on the use of ozone-safe energy efficient refrigerants will be held.
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h2. Organizers and partners of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer in Russia:

• Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation
• UNIDO Center for International Industrial Cooperation in the Russian Federation
• GEF
• District Tutorial Center of the Eastern Administrative Okrug of Moscow
• Institute of Refrigeration and Biotechnologies of the Saint-Petersburg National Research University of Information, Mechanics and Optics
• GBOU SPO Engineering College No.19

Abstract work topics for the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer:

1. Destruction of the ozone layer: background.
2. Popular myths on ozone holes.
3. International and Russian legislation in the field of the protection of the ozone layer.
4. Arrangement of advocacy of the ozone layer protection in Russia.
5. Alternative ozone-safe technologies for foam production.
6. Alternative ozone-safe technologies for medicine.
7. Transition for ozone-safe technologies for Russian companies: economy and environment.
8. The Montreal and Kyoto Protocols.
9. Environmental disturbances in the field of the ozone layer protection and efforts to combat them.
10. The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer as a global event.
11. The state regulation system for production and use of ozone-depleting substances.
12. The ozone layer protection: Russia and Europe.
13. The ozone layer protection: environment and economy.
14. European practice of regulation of fluorine- and chlorine-containing gases.
15. International organizations acting in the area of the ozone layer protection.
16. Ozone-depleting refrigerants: environmentally-safe recovery, recycle or destruction.
17. ODS consumer leaflet.
18. The legislation regulating the ozone layer protection and f-gases: new opportunities for business.

For address of the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment S.R. Levi, please, see the attachment

For address of the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment S.R. Levi