Jacob Hembrom
World Ozone Layer Preservation Day is celebrated on 16th September every year. The United Nations declared this day to commemorate the Montreal Protocol (1987), a global agreement to phase out chemicals like CFCs that harm the ozone layer.
The ozone layer acts as a protective shield in the stratosphere, absorbing harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. Its depletion can lead to serious health issues such as skin cancer, eye cataracts, weakened immunity, and also damage crops, forests, and marine life.
In the Indian context, this day has special importance. India is a signatory to the Montreal Protocol and has taken strong measures like banning ozone-depleting substances, promoting eco-friendly refrigerants, and spreading awareness through the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Indian students, schools, and environmental groups often organize rallies, seminars, and plantation drives to mark this day.
It reminds us that protecting the ozone layer is not just a global responsibility but also a national duty, ensuring the health of people, agriculture, and biodiversity in India for future generations.