World Ozone Day | International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
September 16, 2021
India is a Party to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocal on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer and all its amendments. India has been successfully implementing the phase-out programme of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODSs) in the country. India is now phasing out the next category of chemicals, Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFs0 as per the accelerated phase-out schedule of the Montreal Protocol and has already met 2015 and 2020 phase-out targets. The complete phase-out of production and consumption of HCFCs will be by 2030 with a service tail of 2.5% annual average during the period 2030-2040.
The United Nations General Assembly on 23rd January, 1995 adopted resolution 49/114, which proclaims 16th September as the World Ozone Day, commemorating the date on which Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer was signed in 1987. The World Ozone Day offers an opportunity to focus global attention and action on this vital environmental issue.
The theme for the celebration of this year's World Ozone Day to be marked on 16th Spetmeber is "Montreal Protocol - Keeping us, our food and vaccines cool". This year's World Ozone Day seeks to highlight, the Montreal Protocol does so much - such as slowing climate change and helping to boost energy efficiency in the cooling sector, which contributes to food security. The Protocol has been universally ratified by all 197 member countries of United Nations.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has developed and launched the India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) during 2019, which is in line with the theme of the World Ozone Day 2021. The ICAP aims to provide an integrated vision towards cooling across sectors including space cooling in buildings and cold chain encompassing inter alia reducing colling demand, refrigerant transition, enhancing energy efficiency and better technology options with a 20-year time horizon.
The awareness among the stakeholders including industries and the general public play a vital role in phase-out of ODSs and protection of the Ozone Layer. In this year of the coronavirus pandemic, the World Ozone Day may be observed by following the government guidelines and maintaining social distancing.
Text source: http://ozonecell.nic.in/
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