International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
September 16, 2021
In 1994, the UN General Assembly proclaimed September 16 as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer commemorating the date of the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1987. The Protocol supported the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer adopted two years before.
The Russian Federation became the party to the Montreal Protocol on December 31, 1991, as a successor of the USSR that had signed the protocol on December 29, 1987, and ratified it on November 10, 1988.
The cooperation of the countries across the world under the Protocol prevented the ozone layer from destruction. Scientists expect that we may expect full repair of the ozone hole already by the middle of the century.
In 2016, Kigali, Rwanda capital, saw the adoption of an amendment to the Protocol aimed at reducing production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), substances that do not harm the ozone layer but have a strong greenhouse effect. The Russian Federation joined the Kigali amendment in 2020.
Many countries celebrate the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, and Russia joined them in 2011.
This year’s motto for the Ozone Day is Montreal Protocol — Keeping us, our food and vaccines cool. The theme highlights the role of the Montreal Protocol in the creation of more energy-efficient and environmentally safe solutions for the cold chain.