16 September 2015: The UN system celebrated the International Ozone Day under the theme ’30 Years of Healing Ozone Together,’ celebrating the 1985 signing of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. The Vienna Convention is the framework agreement under which the 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was adopted.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon observed the Day by calling for action on phasing down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). He stressed that “a political commitment to managing HFCs under the Montreal Protocol could be one of the biggest climate change wins in the lead-up to the Paris climate conference.”

The Ozone Secretariat launched a ‘Precious Ozone’ digital campaign emphasizing the successes achieved under the ozone protection regime and highlighting the importance of protecting life on Earth from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. Campaign tools include an ‘ozone song,’ special posters, banners, animations and interactive Internet tools designed to help everyone, from children to policymakers, understand the issues related to protection of the ozone layer.

For its part, the European Environment Agency (EEA) commemorated the Day by releasing a report titled, ‘Ozone Depleting Substances 2014,’ documenting European progress in phasing out more than 200 ozone-depleting substances (ODS) controlled by the Montreal Protocol. The report finds that, in line with recent trends, European consumption of ODS in 2014 was negative due to phase-outs, high destruction rates and low stocks. [Ozone Secretariat Webpage for Ozone Day 2015] [UN Press Release] [UNIDO Press Release] [EEA Release] [Ozone Depleting Substances 2014] [UN Secretary-General Message]