SYLLABUS

GS-3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.  

Context: The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) organised the 31st World Ozone Day on 16th September in New Delhi.

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• The theme for World Ozone Day 2025 is ‘From science to global action’. 

• The theme emphasises the power of scientific discovery to assist policy formulation and inspire international cooperation, demonstrating that collective action based on scientific evidence can protect our planet and its future. 

• The day aims to raise global awareness on the importance of the ozone layer and the threats posed by its depletion, while reminding countries of their commitments under the Montreal Protocol.

Origin of the Day

• The honour the Montreal Protocol’s adoption, the United Nations General Assembly

proclaimed 16 September as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer in December 1994.       

• The first official Ozone Day was celebrated on 16 September 1995.

• Purpose of Ozone Day

• To raise global awareness about the importance of the ozone layer and the dangers of its depletion.
• To remind countries of their commitments under the Montreal Protocol.
• To celebrate global success stories, showing that collective action can solve environmental challenges.

Ozone Layer 

• It exists in the Stratosphere (a layer of Earth’s atmosphere), between 10 km and 40 km above the Earth's surface and protects us from UV radiation from the Sun. 

• Ozone formed in the stratosphere is called stratospheric ozone or good Ozone. 

• It helps prevent cataracts and skin cancer while protecting agriculture, forests and marine life.

Montreal Protocol

• The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was adopted in 1987 as a multilateral environmental agreement that regulates the production and consumption of nearly 100 man-made chemicals referred to as ozone depleting substances (ODSs). 

• The Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol was established in 1991.

• Later on, through the Kigali Amendment on Montreal Protocol, climate action is being further accelerated by countries committing to phase down the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

• India ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol in 2021.

• Researcher say if the Kigali Amendment is fully ratified and implemented, up to 0.5°C of warming could be avoided by 2100.

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Discuss the significance of the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment in combating ozone depletion and climate change. How has India contributed to this global effort?

Source

United Nations
PIB