16 September 2008: On the occasion of the International Day
for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of
the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), noted the success that the
Montreal Protocol has achieved through international cooperation.

He stated
that this year’s theme, “Global partnership for global benefits,” emphasizes
the need for cooperation between all stakeholders at all levels and that the
Protocol’s achievements have: protected the ozone layer; exemplified the
effectiveness of international cooperation; and emphasized the
interconnectedness of all life on Earth.
He pointed to the benefits for the
fight against climate change and biodiversity loss generated by efforts to
reduce the use of ozone-depleting substances, thereby illustrating the
synergies among all environmental agreements. Noting the need to involve all
stakeholders in the implementation of a convention, he underlined that the Day
not only raises awareness of the importance of protecting the ozone layer, but
also of the urgency to preserve all life on Earth.
In conclusion, Djoghlaf
reiterated the CBD Secretariat’s commitment to support the efforts of the
international community aimed at protecting the ozone layer as a contribution to
the mitigation of biodiversity loss. [The
statement]