International Day for the Protection of the Ozone Layer focuses on the Montreal Protocol
September 16th is the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, aimed at raising awareness about the critical importance of protecting the ozone layer.
Countries around the world are working together to find common solutions to safeguard the ozone layer. As early as 1985, 28 countries signed the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, followed by the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1987. The Montreal Protocol is one of the most successfully implemented international treaties, with around 200 countries ratifying and adhering to its obligations.
This year, the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is dedicated to the Montreal Protocol and its role in advancing the fight against climate change. It is not only a time to reflect on the progress achieved so far but also to look ahead, ensuring that the Protocol is implemented with greater urgency and action to protect the ozone layer, the planet, people, and the environment.
The ozone layer shields the Earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays by absorbing them. In the late 1970s, scientists discovered that man-made chemicals, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other organic halogen compounds, were depleting the ozone layer. These chemicals were widely used in refrigeration, air conditioning, fire extinguishers, foams, aerosols, pest control, and other applications. Today, the production and use of ozone-depleting substances are largely banned, with certain exceptions where alternatives are not yet available.
Lithuania acceded to the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol in 1994 and has since ratified all subsequent amendments to the Protocol. Moreover, Lithuania enforces European Union regulations concerning the use of ozone-depleting substances and fluorinated greenhouse gases.
The success of the Montreal Protocol demonstrates that global cooperation to ban the production and use of ozone-depleting substances is an effective way to address this issue. Recent scientific studies indicate that the ozone layer is gradually recovering, with projections suggesting that in Antarctica, it could return to 1980 levels by approximately 2066.
However, the work of the Montreal Protocol is not yet complete. The Kigali Amendment, adopted in 2016, aims to protect the climate by phasing down the production and use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a potent greenhouse gas. While HFCs do not deplete the ozone layer, they are widely used as replacements for ozone-depleting substances and have a high global warming potential.
Lithuania has been monitoring the ozone layer since 1993 through the Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service, which is part of the World Meteorological Organization's Global Atmospheric Monitoring Network. The Service tracks changes in the ozone layer, monitors total ozone levels and solar ultraviolet radiation, prepares UV radiation index forecasts, and processes and publishes measurement data. When dangerous levels of ozone depletion or UV radiation are detected that may pose risks to human health or the environment, the Service promptly informs the public and relevant authorities.