World Ozone Day

In December 1994, the UN General Assembly declared September 16 to be the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.

Since then, it has been observed with the aim of raising awareness of the Ozone layer's deteriorating state.

On September 16, 1995, the globe observed the first International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.

Theme:

• Global Cooperation Protecting Life on Earth is the theme for the 2022 International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, according to the UN Environment Program.
• With this subject, the Montreal Protocol's influence is acknowledged and calls attention to the "need to act in collaboration, build partnerships, and develop global cooperation to address climate concerns and protect life on earth for future generations."

SIGNIFICANCE

• The day aims to raise awareness of the Ozone layer's significance and necessity as the planet's only line of defense against UV rays from the sun.
• Additionally, the UN Environment Program seeks to raise awareness of the necessity of eliminating pollutants that harm the ozone layer. It also requires taking time-specific measures to safeguard the Earth's shield.
• 99% of the ozone-depleting compounds found in refrigerators, air conditioners, and many other items have been phased out as a result of the Montreal Protocol.
• According to the most recent Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion, which was finished in 2018, some of the ozone layers has been recovering since 2000 at a pace of 1-3% per decade.
• By preventing an estimated 135 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions between 1990 and 2010, measures to safeguard the ozone layer have also helped the fight against climate change.
• The Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol became the first treaties in United Nations history to receive universal acceptance in September 2009.
• The Vienna Convention of 1985 codified the establishment of a structure for international collaboration to take steps to safeguard the ozone layer.
• The Parties to the Montreal Protocol agreed to phase down hydrofluorocarbons in 2016 as part of an ongoing worldwide effort at their 28th Meeting of the Parties in Kigali, Rwanda (HFCs).
• The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol was recently ratified by the Indian Government.

Ozone

• The chemical formula O3 is a particular type of oxygen. O2 is the oxygen that we breathe and is essential for life on earth.
• Between 10 and 40 kilometres above Earth's surface, the atmosphere is where the majority of ozone is found.
• 90% of the ozone in the atmosphere is found in this area, which is known as the stratosphere.

Classification:

Positive ozone

• Ozone is a naturally occurring gas in the stratosphere, the upper atmosphere of the Earth, where it creates a layer of defence against the sun's destructive ultraviolet rays.
• These "good" ozone is being steadily destroyed by man-made substances known as Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS), such as methyl bromide, carbon tetrachloride, halons, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and methyl chloroform.

Bad Ozone:

• When pollutants generated by vehicles, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, chemical plants, and other sources react chemically in the presence of sunlight, ozone is formed in the lower atmosphere (troposphere) of the Earth, close to the ground.
• Ozone at ground level is a dangerous air contaminant.