Zim joins the world in efforts aimed at ozone layer recovery, Min of Environment

Charity Chikara

19.09.23

The Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife Hon Mangaliso Ndlovu said Zimbabwe was working hand in glove with the rest of the world in efforts to recover the ozone layer.

He said this in his ozone layer day celebration speech where he highlighted that man-made chemicals used mostly in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) are depleting this protective ozone layer causing eye cataracts,

skin cancers and suppressing the immune system in human beings.

He further highlighted that the Ozone layer depletion also reduces crop yields, degrades synthetic materials and affects aquatic organisms.

Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said since the Government of Zimbabwe is a party to the Montreal Protocol it is of paramount importance that the country joins the rest of the World in commemorating the important day.

Highlighting that his ministry works closely with Customs Officers and Environmental Officers at major ports of entry and stations across the country to enforce the provisions of ozone layer depletion regulations.

Whilst the regulations control the import and use of substances that deplete the ozone layer and cause global warming, they facilitate local industries to operate in
a sustainable manner.

The regulations also enable the local industry to be
competitive whilst meeting international standards by adopting climate friendly alternatives that are now readily available.

The theme for this year’s World Ozone Day commemorations was ”Montreal Protocol: fixing the ozone layer and reducing climate change”.

The day is celebrated on the 16th of September every year.

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