World Ozone Day

World Ozone Day is observed on September 16 every year. The theme for this year is “32 years and Healing”. Many ozone-depleting substances were used in cooling A/Cs and refrigeration systems. These were tearing a hole in the ozone layer and allowing dangerous UV rays to flow through. We need to reduce the production and use of these substances, which are the major contributors to global warming. Many cases of skin cancer may be prevented if we try to completely stop using these substances in our cooling systems and it would make our planet much cooler to live in.

It is just not the government’s responsibility to protect the ozone layer. We as global citizens can do our bit by using our A/Cs, refrigerators and other equipment responsibly. Proper disposal, servicing of these appliances can minimize the emission of these harmful substances.

We can try to help in the following ways:

Buy A/C or refrigerator that don’t use these harmful substances as refrigerant

Regularly inspect and do a maintenance of our cooling appliances to prevent and minimize refrigerant leakage

Purchase and use environmental friendly fertilizers

Service your cars frequently so as to prevent them from emitting excessive smoke that causes air pollution

Don’t burn plastics and rubber tires

Organize tree planting events in your neighborhood

Avoid using products which contains CFC (chlorofluorocarbons) in your room fresheners, hair sprays and cosmetics

On this day, let us plan and work together to fix the ozone hole. No hole is too big to fix. World Ozone Day should not be confined and restricted to one day but we as global citizens must try to go in for ecofriendly products to save our environment.

I spread about the importance of these environment days among our schoolmates and classmates through presentations, recycling campaigns such as PEPC Campaign and pep talks. Let us honor the legacy of the late H.H. Sheikh Zayed through such projects and initiatives to support our environment that are consistent with his vision and values.

“On land and in the sea, our forefathers lived and survived in this environment. They were able to do so because they recognized the need to conserve it, to take from it only what they needed to live, and to preserve it for succeeding generations.” ― Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan

Love the planet; Serve the planet, Heal the planet!