In 1994, the UN General Assembly declared September 16 the International Day for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. This is the date on which the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed in 1987, a natural protective filter against harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun.
The adoption of the Montreal Protocol has led to a 99% reduction in the use of ozone-depleting chemicals in refrigerators, air conditioners and many other products. This act has not only helped to protect the ozone layer, but has also significantly supported the issue of climate change.
The latest scientific report on the state of the ozone layer in 2018 shows that some parts of the ozone layer have been recovering at a rate of 1-3% for a decade since 2000. If this pace is maintained, ozone over the Northern Hemisphere and average latitudes is expected to fully recover by the mid-2030s. For the Southern Hemisphere, this is expected to happen in the 2050s and for the polar regions by 2060. Efforts to protect the ozone layer have contributed to the fight against climate change by preventing the release of nearly 135 billion tons into the atmosphere. carbon dioxide from 1990 to 2010
Efforts to protect the ozone layer, along with combating climate change, continue to eliminate the use of other harmful gases.
Learn more about ozone recovery efforts here.