RIYADH: Saudi Arabia joins the global community each year on Sept. 16 to commemorate International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, marking the 1987 signing of the Montreal Protocol, one of the most successful environmental agreements in history.
Scientific confirmation of the depletion of the ozone layer prompted the international community to establish a mechanism for cooperation to take action to protect the ozone layer. This was formalized in the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, which was adopted and signed by 28 countries on March 22, 1985.
Forty years ago, nations came together under the Vienna Convention and agreed to take appropriate measures to protect people and the planet from harmful UV radiation entering through a potentially damaged ozone layer.
Two years later the Montreal Protocol was adopted in 1987 and chlorofluorocarbons — chemicals used in refrigeration, aerosol sprays and foam production — started being phased out, setting the ozone layer on the road to recovery.
The ozone treaties have epitomized the concept of moving “from science to global action,” which is the theme this year for International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.
Saudi Arabia joins the global community each year on Sept. 16, strengthening its commitment to international and regional agreements focused on preserving the ozone layer.
Through active engagement in global environmental protection and sustainability initiatives, it has established a leadership role both regionally and globally, particularly in environmental protection and ozone layer efforts.
This positive role extends to implementing technical initiatives and projects, in collaboration with the public and private sectors, aimed at gradually phasing out ozone-depleting substances, particularly in the insulation, refrigeration and air-conditioning industries.
Mohammed Faisal, a botany professor at King Saud University, told Arab News: “Beyond its direct commitments under the Montreal Protocol, the Kingdom integrates ozone layer protection within its broader environmental strategies, most notably the Saudi Green Initiative and Vision 2030. These frameworks emphasize emissions reduction, investment in clean energy and sustainable development — goals that naturally intersect with ozone preservation.
“In parallel with policy and regulatory measures, Saudi Arabia is building a vast network of protected areas and nature reserves that reflect its commitment to environmental stewardship,” he said. “These reserves conserve biodiversity, restore fragile ecosystems, and indirectly support ozone and climate protection by encouraging sustainable land use and reducing ecological stress.”
A notable example is the Farasan Islands Marine Protected Area in the Red Sea, a biodiversity-rich sanctuary that protects coral reefs and mangroves. Such ecosystems act as natural carbon sinks and vital buffers against climate change, reinforcing the Kingdom’s broader environmental and climate goals, he added.
The ozone layer has continued to heal, putting it on track for full recovery by mid-century, the UN said on Tuesday.
Released on the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, the latest bulletin from the World Meteorological Organization showed that the ozone hole in 2024 was smaller than in recent years. While naturally occurring atmospheric factors were responsible for low levels of depletion, the long-term trend was positive, the UN body said.
The layer’s loss was once seen as humanity’s most pressing environmental challenge. The ozone layer, a region of the earth’s stratosphere, serves as a protective shield against the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, exposure to which can result in increased risks of skin cancer, cataracts and ecosystem damage.
