International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer 2015

• published: 20 Sep 2015
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Dear viewers, Ozone layer is a layer in the atmosphere. This layer is made of Ozone (O3) gas. This layer absorbs most of the Sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation. As a result, this layer works as a shield for us. UV rays are very much harmful for living organisms, but this natural shield is decaying for various reasons. As a result, our environment and ecosystems are being harmed by the UV rays, and the world is now worried about it. So, for the preservation of Ozone Layer, like previous years, this year also the ‘International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer’ is being observed worldwide on 16 September. To discuss about this we have with us Dr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed, Honorable Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). Then we have Mr. Md. Raisul Alam Mondal, Director General, Department of Environment. And, Mr. QSI Hashmi, Additional Director General, Department of Environment and the Project Director of ODS Project. We also have Dr. Asif Mujtaba Mahmud, Associate Professor, National Institute of Chest Diseases & Hospital. First I would like to request the Honorable Secretary to tell us about the theme of this year’s International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. You just said about the decay of Ozone Layer and its adverse impacts. On the basis of that, this year’s theme has been decided as: “30 Years of Healing the Ozone Together.” The theme is supported by the slogan, “Ozone: All there is between you and UV.” In Bengali we say- Preserve Ozone Layer and be safe from UV. Does MoEF have any program in this regard? Yes, we have a program. Actually, an agreement was first initiated in Vienna Convention on 22 March of 1985 for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. Later on 16 September 1987 the Montreal Protocol was signed and afterwards the whole world was informed about the Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Accordingly, in 1994 it was decided that the Day of Montreal Protocol (16 September) would be observed as ‘International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.’ In Bangladesh, we are seriously observing this Day every year since 1995. And we have taken initiatives to reduce the existence and production of the substances that deplete the Ozone Layer in every sector. Its last phase ‘HCFC Phaseout’ work is now running. It’s one of our special works in context of saving people from the impacts of Ozone Layer depletion. Thank you, I’ll come back to you again. Mr. Md. Raisul Alam Mondal, please tell us about our Government’s initiatives regarding Preservation of the Ozone Layer. Since 1995 we are actively working to facilitate preservation of the Ozone Layer by building public awareness including pharmaceuticals and business entrepreneurs. We have worked on various projects on this regard in the past and two projects are still running. Under these projects we are working to phase-out Ozone gas in line with the way directed by Montreal Protocol. To cope up with that we have already gained some success in our industry level (e.g. refrigerator, Air conditioning, pharmaceuticals). Despite being a third world country, in 2002 we have phased out CFC. Later we also totally phased out HCFC-141b, the second phase of HCFC. We are now working on the last phase, the management plan of HCFC. We are now in a good position compared to the target for Bangladesh fixed by Montreal Protocol. Already we have achieved 93% success. We hope after finishing our running projects we’ll be able to achieve 5% more, means 98% success. The rest will continue as residual for some time in our various industries.