As the world observes International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer on Tuesday, September 16, the Environment Public Authority (EPA) stressed the importance of stopping the usage of ozone-depleting substances in the atmosphere.
This international day was proclaimed as such by a resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1994 and the Montreal Protocol which was designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion.
In accordance with the theme for this year's celebration "Ozone Layer Protection: The Mission Goes On," Head of the national committee for the ozone protection at EPA Ayman Bojbarah said that individuals and companies using ozone depleting substances should try to limit their use to make further progress in positive steps that have been taking by the state of Kuwait to protect the ozone layer from damage.
Measures stipulated by the Montreal Protocol and the Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer should be adhered to, especially since Kuwait is part of these treaties, he pointed out.
He added that the national committee was able to eliminate the use of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) compound in 2010 by joint efforts exerted by EPA, the industrial and the commercials sectors.
Currently, Bojbarah said, the committee is working on removing all other harmful substances with international assistance.
He said that the recent amendments to the Montreal Protocol states that CFC compounds should be eliminated gradually according to a timeframe that would lower their usage from to %35 to %67.5 in the years 2015, 2020 and 2025 respectively. However, Bojbarah said that these substances are used in the country's industry sector in air-conditioning, refrigeration and sponge manufacturing.
Kuwait has started limiting the use of these ozone-depleting compounds in the sponge industry only since air-conditioning and refrigeration are necessities, not a luxury in a climate such as that of Kuwait's.