International Day for preservation of Ozone Layer being observed today

The International Day for the preservation of the Ozone Layer is being observed today. The day marks the commemoration of the date of signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987 on substances that deplete the Ozone layer. Substances like Chlorofluorocarbons, halons, Carbontetrachloride are responsible for depletion of ozone layer . The Ozone layer is a fragile shield of gas which protects the Earth from the harmful ultraviolet radiation of the sun and thus helping preserve life on the planet. Countries were invited to devote the Day to promote activities in accordance with the objectives of the Protocol and its amendments. This year, the theme for Day is Ozone Layer Protection: The Mission Goes On. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki- Moon in his message has said, recent scientific findings reveal the importance of the Montreal Protocol. Without the Protocol and associated agreements, atmospheric levels of ozone-depleting substances could have increased ten-fold by 2050. Concerted action has prevented millions of cases of skin cancer.