A message from Achim Steiner

UN Under-Secretary-General, UNEP Executive Director 30 years of healing ozone together,the theme of this year’s international ozone day. As we look back on the past 30 years of the Vienna convention and its Montreal protocolin bringing nations, businesses, science and technology together in phasing-out ozone depleting substances,we can truly celebrate the most successful environmental treaty the United Nations has ever brokered. An extraordinary track record of phasing down 98% of the ozone-depleting substances through scientific, financial and technological cooperation across the planet truly is the reason to celebrate. As we look forward to the coming years we’ve also realized that the Montreal protocol has made a significant contribution addressing climate change. CFCs are also greenhouse gases. Our ability to use these substancesin the future is in part predicated upon finding alternatives that will not exacerbate the phenomenal of global warming. Indeed through the phasing out of ozone-depleting substances, we have significantly contributed also to reducing the global warming drivers.But as we look forward now some of the replacements for those ozone-depleting substances are good for the ozone layer but actually turn out to be also drivers of global warming. In the year 2015 we are in the midst with world’s governments to try negotiating a new agreement on how to ensure that we do not introduce new substances that yes, may help with the ozone layer but will create far greater difficulties in terms of greenhouse gas drivers into the future. The ability of using an instrument, a protocol and a convention has been so successful alongside the climate change negotiations is an excellent example of how our international environment corporation platforms must work very closely together. Wherever you are in the world, wherever you are on the international ozone day, take a moment to look at these issues, study the success story of the Vienna Convention and its Montreal protocol, and dwell for a moment on what lives would look like in the year 2015 if we had not acted based on good science and available technology 30 years ago. International Ozone Day is the moment where every citizen in this planet has a reason to celebrate and perhaps also moment to think about how we can make sure that these successes in international cooperation continuing to the future. Thank you for your interest and Thank you for your support.   Transcribed by UNEP CAP ROAP to facilitate the work of national ozone units only.