Washington, 15 September 2025.- 16 September marks the International Day for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. Thanks to the Montreal Protocol, the international community has managed to drastically reduce the substances responsible for its depletion. This success, hailed as one of the largest environmental agreements, must today inspire the fight against climate change.
Located in the upper atmosphere, the ozone layer protects living beings from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Its preservation not only reduced the health risks associated with these rays, but also contributed to the global fight against global warming.
Adopted in 1987 under the Vienna Convention in Austria (1985), the Montreal Protocol set timelines for the phase-out of nearly 100 ozone-depleting chemicals, including CFCs, halons and HCFCs. Universally ratified in 2009, it is considered « Most successful international agreement » According to Kofi Annan.
In 2016, the Kigali Amendment, Rwanda, strengthened this mechanism by urging States to phase out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are refrigerant gases harmful to the climate.
Implementation of the Protocol has far exceeded expectations, with an accelerated phase-out of many substances and a gradual recovery of the ozone layer. UN Secretary General António Guterres recalled: « Let us build on the success of the Montreal Protocol to show what constructive international cooperation is capable of accomplishing. »
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