Healing the Skies: World Ozone Day – From Science to Global Action
World Ozone Day is observed every year on 16 September to remind the world about the importance of the ozone layer, which protects life on Earth from harmful ultraviolet rays. The 2025 theme, “From Science to Global Action,” highlights how scientific warnings about ozone depletion were converted into collective international action through the Vienna Convention, Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment.The article underlines that the ozone layer has started slowly healing, showing that science-led global cooperation can produce real environmental progress.
World Ozone Day 2025 focuses on the theme “From Science to Global Action.” India’s actions, including HFC reduction and the India Cooling Action Plan, show its proactive role in ozone protection. The input also mentions that India’s contribution towards reduction of direct CO₂ emissions is 42,62,100 MT CO₂ Eq. per year from 2020 and 76,97,600 MT CO₂ Eq. per year from 2023.
The Vienna Convention (1985) created an international framework for cooperation and information-sharing to protect the ozone layer. The Montreal Protocol (1987) became the major global treaty to phase out chemicals that damage the ozone layer, including CFCs, halons, carbon tetrachloride, HCFCs and methyl bromide.The Kigali Amendment, agreed on 15 October 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda, aims to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). According to the input, reducing these harmful cooling gases could help prevent up to 0.5°C warming by the end of the century.
India has shown strong commitment by phasing out key ozone-depleting substances (ODS) ahead of schedule. It phased out CFCs, Carbon Tetrachloride and halons for controlled use by 2010. India also enacted the Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, which banned CFCs and halons in new equipment by 2003.India stopped production and consumption of CFCs from 1 August 2008, which was 17 months ahead of the Montreal Protocol schedule. India also met the 2013 HCFC freeze and 2015 target of 10% reduction under the HCFC Phase-out Management Plan Stage-I, phasing out 341.77 ODP tonnes.
The India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) was launched in 2019 and is described as the world’s first cooling action plan. It targets:
| Area | Target by 2037–38 |
|---|---|
| Cooling demand | 20–25% reduction |
| Energy use | 25–40% reduction |
| Refrigerant demand | 25–30% reduction |
India’s National Strategy for HFC phase-down, finalised in 2023, prioritises sectors based on HFC use and availability of low-GWP alternatives, aligning with the goals of the Kigali Amendment.
The ozone layer is part of the stratosphere, located around 15–50 km above Earth’s surface. It contains most atmospheric ozone and acts like Earth’s sunscreen by absorbing harmful UV-B radiation.Ozone depletion is mainly caused by man-made chemicals such as CFCs, halons, carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform and methyl bromide. These chemicals reach the stratosphere, where UV radiation breaks them down and releases chlorine or bromine. A single chlorine atom can destroy over 100,000 ozone molecules.
Ozone depletion increases harmful UV radiation, affecting human health, agriculture, marine life, animals and materials. It raises the risk of skin cancer, cataracts, blindness and weakened immune systems. In agriculture, higher UV levels can damage crops such as rice, wheat, corn and soybeans. The input states that a 1% UV-B increase could reduce food production by 1%, which is significant for India’s agriculture.Marine ecosystems are also affected as increased UV radiation harms plankton, disrupting aquatic food chains and affecting fish yields.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) supports developing countries in addressing ozone depletion, climate change, biodiversity loss and international water issues. Between 1996 and 2000, GEF approved over $160 million to assist 17 countries in phasing out ozone-depleting substances. An additional $60 million was earmarked to help phase out HCFCs and Methyl Bromide.
The article emphasises that individuals, governments and industries must continue ozone-friendly practices. Consumers should prefer CFC-free or ozone-friendly products, homeowners should responsibly dispose of old appliances, farmers should shift from methyl bromide to safer alternatives, and technicians should recover refrigerants from RAC units without venting.The broader lesson is that global cooperation, science-based policy and public participation can deliver environmental recovery, and the same urgency is required for climate action.
Updated – 16 September 2025 ; 03:31 PM | PIBNews Source:PIB