Ozone layer recovering by 1-3 percent per decade

Environment
munkhzul@montsame.gov.mn
2019-09-17 17:07:55

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. Over 30 years ago, scholars discovered that the damage to the ozone layer was caused by chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) and other ozone-depleting substances, which were widely used in aerosol spray cans, refrigeration, air conditioning, and many other technologies, creating the condition for ultraviolet radiation to reach the earth’s surface. In order to take countermeasures for the issue, countries of the world adopted the Montreal Protocol in 1987, which is successfully being implemented to this day.

The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer was marked yesterday on September 16, the National Ozone Unit of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism held a press conference. This year, the Ozone Day is being marked with the theme, ‘32 Years and Healing’.



Head of the National Ozone Unit at the Ministry of Environment and Tourism Ts.Adiyasuren said, “According to the most recent studies on the ozone layer, it was discovered that the ozone layer has been recovering at a rate of 1-3 percent per decade since 2000. Without the Montreal Protocol, the ozone hole would have continued to get bigger, causing the average global temperature to increase. It is expected to heal to return to its state in 1980 by 2060.” 


Highlighting that Mongolia joined the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1996, Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism Ts.Batbayar introduced the measures being taken on the preservation of the ozone layer in Mongolia during the conference.


These include:

• prohibition of import and sales of CFCs from January 2010

• implementation of management programme on step-by-step reduction of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and halt of consumption since 2011

• implementation of regulation on ‘Granting special license to import, sell and use ozone depleting substances, other commutative substances and equipment that contained them’ as according to the Government Resolution no. 277 of September 5, 2018 in effect from January 2019

• organizing regular workshops for environmental officers and customs officers monitoring the import and export of ozone depleting substances in partnership with UN Environment Programme, Customs General Administration, and the General Agency for Specialized Inspection

• co-organizing the international workshop under the theme, ‘Building Enabling Conditions for HFC Phase-down while Phasing out HFCFs’ and the exhibition and round-table discussion with the theme, ‘New Ozone- and Climate-Friendly Technologies’, in August 2019.


Related news