International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

Message by Hon. Devanand Virahsawmy

Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development

Ladies and Gentlemen - Good Evening,

  • It is my pleasure as Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development to address you a few words on the occasion of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. The theme for this year is “Protecting our Atmosphere for Generations to come”.
  • This year, we are also celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Montreal Protocol, which has been ratified by 197 countries, including Mauritius. It is one of the most successful multilateral Agreements to date .To mark this event,the Ministry of Environment is laying emphasis on sensitizing the public at large on the problem of Ozone layer depletion and Climate Change.
  • Ozone is found in the Stratosphere, 10 to 50 Km from the Earth Surface. It acts as a filter in as much as it protects human life, plants and animals by absorbing part of the sun’s ultra violet radiation, which otherwise would have caused damage to the human eye, skin cancer, increase the risk of diseases, decrease the efficiency of the body’s immune system, disrupt plant growth and marine life and enhance the green house effect.
  • Ozone layer depletion is one of the main problems facing humanity. The mere existence of man on this planet may be at stake if there is complete depletion of the Ozone Layer.
  • Scientists noticed the depletion of the Ozone Layer as from the 1970’s. The main culprits were man-made gases containing Chlorofluorocarbons which are used in different applications namely:

(i)In aerosols

(ii)In refrigeration equipments/air-conditionners

(iii)Fire extinguishers and foams

  • The international Community reacted to this problem through an agreement under the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol to phase out the use of ozone depleting substances.With the adoption of the Montreal Protocol, over 95% of the ozone depleting substances have been phased out, so far, and it is estimated that more than 1.5 million of cases of melanoma skin cancer in the world would be avoided by the year 2068, when the ozone layer is expected to fully recover.
  • I am pleased to note that since its adherence to the Montreal Protocol in November 1992, the Ministry of Environment has implemented many projects to eliminate the use of chlorofluorocarbons in Mauritius through the implementation of various plans namely the refrigerant management plan and the terminal phase out management plan.
  • Mauritius has successfully phased out the use of Chlorofluorocarbons in year 2005, five years ahead of the scheduled date for developing countries. Indeed since 2005, importation of Chlorofluorocarbons has been banned in Mauritius and replaced by hydroclorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
  • Presently, Mauritius is implementing its Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) Phase-Out Management Plan. This Plan, aims at phasing out the less damaging Hydrochlorofluorocarbon by 2030 through measures including policy, legislative, institutional, and technology transfer. Furthermore, the implementation of this plan will bring about a different way of life since the equipment that will be used in 20 years will be quite different from what is being used today in the sense that they will be both Ozone and Climate friendly besides being very energy efficient.
  • Under the Hydrochlorofluorocarbon Phase-OutManagement Plan, all spheres of the economy will be in one way or another touched by the change in technology. By phasing out Ozone Depleting Substances, we are also eliminating very potent greenhousegases. In actual fact, we are tackling both problems at the same time.
  • The World Community recognizes that the Montreal Protocol has to a great extent also contributed towards reduction of greenhouse gases emission. It is therefore imperative that consumers follow our guidelines in this endeavor to protect life earth.
  • To conclude, I would like also to thank all stakeholders who are contributing to the successful implementation of the Hydrochlorofluorocarbon Phase OutManagement Plan.

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