Today, UNIDO says that it has helped over 400 enterprises around the world to convert their industrial production lines to climate-friendly options and supports the member states with its technical expertise and best practices from its projects.
UNIDO Director- General Gerd Müller, disclosed this in a statement to mark the 2024 World Ozone Day.
The theme for this year’s World Ozone Day is Montreal Protocol@35: global cooperation protecting life on Earth.
World Ozone Day is observed every year on September 16, marking the importance of the ozone layer and the Montreal Protocol agreement of 1987, which protects it.
The ozone layer is a part of the Earth’s atmosphere that absorbs most of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
The use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used in aerosol cans, refrigeration and air conditioning and the foam sector were identified as the cause of ozone depletion.
The Montreal Protocol resolved to phase out the production and consumption of CFCs and nearly 100 other man-made chemicals or ozone-depleting substances (ODS).
Müller said : “The Montreal Protocol is a powerful example of successful multilateralism to find solutions to global challenges.
Once we discovered the threat to the ozone layer, everyone – governments around the world, the private sector, and civil society – worked together with urgency and in the end with great success! Without the Montreal Protocol, we would have faced a global health catastrophe and disastrous impacts on the entire ecosystem.
“The Montreal Protocol resolved to phase out the production and consumption of CFCs and nearly 100 other man-made chemicals or ozone-depleting substances (ODS).”
UNIDO supported industries worldwide to undergo significant transformations to comply with the Montreal Protocol.
They adapted and invested in research to discover ozone-friendly technologies.
Since 1993, UNIDO, as one of the four implementing agencies of the agreement, has been supporting over 100 countries worldwide with projects to implement the Montreal Protocol.
Last year alone, 41 million metric tons of Carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the emissions from over 9.2 million cars driven in a year, have been avoided thanks to UNIDO projects under Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment.
The Director- General also acknowledged the crucial role played by other implementing agencies of the Montreal Protocol—the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank.
Müller highlighted: “This is the kind of strong international cooperation that the world needs to solve our common global challenges.
Climate change is now the greatest challenge we all face, so let us join forces with the same determination to bring low-emission and climate-resilient solutions worldwide. The Montreal Protocol continues to protect people and planet alike. UNIDO stands ready to deliver concrete solutions.”