World Ozone Day is celebrated every year on September 16th. The day aims to raise awareness of the importance of the ozone layer and its protection, as well as to honor the international efforts made to repair it.
The theme of the World Ozone Day 2026 is "Global action for a cooler planet". This year, the event will focus on the 10th anniversary of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol and promoting sustainable cold.
Although the scientists say that the hole in the ozone layer is on the mend, this does not mean that the danger has passed. Besides, even though scientists say that about 99 percent of substances that destroy the ozone layer have been eliminated, the situation requires attention and international efforts since these substances can accumulate in the atmosphere over a long period of time.
What is Ozone Layer
Ozone layer is a fragile gas layer that surrounds our planet and protects it from harmful UV radiation from the sun. Ozone is a triatomic form of oxygen O3. The useful or harmful properties of ozone depend on its location. Two types of ozone are known - stratospheric and ground-level ozone. The former is found in the stratosphere at an altitude of 10-50 km and protects organisms from penetrating UV rays. This is critical for all living things on Earth since unprotected exposure to UV radiation leads to eye diseases, suppression of the immune system, and skin cancer.
On the occasion of Ozone Day, we remember that thanks to the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol, we have been able to take timely steps to repair the ozone layer. Both documents were preceded by decades of research and hard work by thousands of scientists and politicians who have made a tremendous effort to find a solution to the problem.
World Ozone Day History
The World Ozone Day was started by the UN General Assembly in 1994, and September 16, 1987, was the date of adoption of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The World Ozone Day is the date of the signing of the Montreal Protocol, which is an international convention that is aimed at phasing out ozone-depleting substances. One needs to note that the World Ozone Day is intended for the promotion of awareness about the significance of protection of the ozone layer and joint efforts to restore it.