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September 16, 2007 will be
observed worldwide as International Day for the Preservation of the
Ozone Layer under the theme, “Celebrating 20 years of progress in
2007”. Ozone Day has been celebrated globally since September 1995
to commemorate the Montreal Protocol (1987) on substances that
deplete the Ozone Layer. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the
protocol and Jamaica will join the international community in
celebrating this landmark international agreement designed to
protect the ozone layer which shields the planet from damaging Ultra
Violet Radiation, also called UV Rays.
The National Environment and
Planning Agency (NEPA), as part of its mandate to educate the nation
on environmental issues, has organized activities to mark this
important event beginning September 14 and culminating with an
information fair at Devon House on September 22. The fair is free
to members of the public and will include exhibits from NEPA, the
Ministry of Health, Jamaica German Automotive School (JAGAS), the
Scientific Research Council (SRC) and National Tools and Engineering
Institute.
Internationally, in honour of
the 20th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol a number of nations
will host events and activities to celebrate this milestone. The
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the executing agency
for the Montreal Protocol, will also undertake activities to mark
the event, which includes a symposium planned for September 23-26,
2007 in Athens, Greece. The symposium will bring together
distinguished scientists, policy makers, industry players and
Non-governmental Organizations which have contributed to the
protection of the ozone layer.
Under the Montreal Protocol
governments worldwide have agreed to a number of measures to reduce
the production and use of CFCs and several Halons. Since 1987, the
Protocol has been amended several times to accelerate the phase-out
schedules; resulting from further scientific assessment. However,
while most governments have ratified the Protocol, ratification of
the amendments with their stronger control measures lags behind. In
addition, governments are not legally obligated to abide by the
terms of the Montreal Protocol until they ratify both the Protocol
and the Amendments.
Jamaica became a signatory to
the agreement in 1993 and has an active National Ozone Unit (NOU),
within the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA). Among
other things, the NOU has the objective of facilitating the
phase-out and use of ODSs in Jamaica. Among the NOU’s most recent
successes is the January 2006 ban on the importation of products
containing CFCs, which is found in some refrigerants and aerosols.
The phase-out of CFCs was achieved through the enactment of
legislation, the adoption of nationally appropriate ozone friendly
technologies and the active cooperation between public and private
sectors. All this puts Jamaica ahead of the region in the phase-out
of Ozone Depleting Substances.
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