On the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

In 1994, the General Assembly proclaimed September 16 as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. The Day was established to commemorate the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

On September 16, 1987, 36 countries, including the Republic of Belarus, signed a document according to which the participating countries must limit and completely cease the production of ozone-depleting substances. This document obliges countries to reduce, and eventually abolish, the production of substances that deplete the ozone layer. To date, the treaty has been signed and is being implemented by 197 countries worldwide. In fact, this situation is unique: no other agreement has managed to unite so many countries. The issue of preserving the ozone layer, which protects all living things on Earth from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation, is a top priority for all countries worldwide. The motto of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is: "Save the Sky: Protect Yourself - Protect the Ozone Layer." The ozone layer, this thin gaseous shield, protects the Earth from the harmful effects of solar radiation, thereby contributing to the preservation of life on the planet. It extends over the Earth like a vast blanket reaching into space. Its thickness, on the scale of the Earth's atmosphere, can be compared to a sheet of paper on the scale of a library. Meanwhile, this already thin layer is thinning further. The depletion of the ozone layer is dangerous for the entire biosphere, for all living things. There is a hypothesis that this may occur for entirely natural reasons (e.g., volcanic eruptions and methane evaporation). However, most specialists agree that the destruction of the ozone screen is mainly anthropogenic. Ozone depletion is influenced by chemical compounds based on chlorinated, fluorinated, or brominated hydrocarbons that can react with ozone molecules in the stratosphere. It has been established that substances used in the production of refrigerators, air conditioners, aerosols, fire extinguishers, and cleaning agents literally kill the ozone layer. It was later found that aircraft engine emissions and incompletely burned hydrocarbons also lead to the suppression of our planet's protective screen.

, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. Exposure of humans to ultraviolet rays can cause skin cancer, blindness, and other diseases. For example, if the area of the ozone hole increases by just 1%, the incidence of skin cancer increases by an average of 4.5%. In addition, solar ultraviolet radiation, not blocked by the ozone screen, suppresses the human immune system, threatens plants, marine flora and fauna, as well as the global ecosystem. This intensifies the greenhouse effect, reduces crop yields, and degrades soils.

The main task of humanity is to implement measures aimed at preserving ozone at both industrial and domestic levels. Specialists of the National Scientific Research Center for Ozone Layer Monitoring (hereinafter referred to as the Monitoring Center) monitor changes in the thickness of the ozone layer over the country. This institution was established in June 1997 and has 19 research staff members. Daily, the Center's staff monitor the total ozone content in the upper and lower layers of the atmosphere. "Upper" ozone, located between the troposphere and the stratosphere, protects the Earth from solar radiation. However, "ground-level" ozone is a pollutant, poisons the human respiratory system, and harms plants. Its content in the atmosphere requires regular monitoring, as even small concentrations are sufficient for its toxicity to manifest.

The Laws of the Republic of Belarus "On Environmental Protection" and "On Atmospheric Air Protection" establish requirements for the reduction and subsequent cessation of the use of chemical substances that have a harmful effect on the ozone layer.