September 16, has being declared by the United Nations as International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.  This date has being so designated since it was on September 16, 1987 that the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was adopted in Montreal, Canada.

This year marks the 21^st Anniversary of the Protocol and is being celebrated under the theme: “Global Partnerships for Global Benefits”.

The National Ozone Unit (NOU) in the Energy Division of the Ministry of Finance is coordinating the activities to commemorate this day.

Among the activities planned are:

 

(1)                          A Panel Discussion on the theme, “Global Partnerships for Global Benefits”. .  The panelists will include representatives from the National Climate Change Committee, the Energy Division Ministry of Finance and the National Ozone Unit  This activity is scheduled for Tuesday September 16 at the National Stadium

 

(2)                          Also planned is an Award Ceremony to recognize the individuals and institutions that have made outstanding contributions to Grenada’s successful effort to phase out the consumption of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS).  This ceremony will start immediately following the panel discussion at the National Stadium on September 16^th.

 

(3)                          An address by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Communication, Works, Transport, Physical Planning and Environment – Hon. Minister Sylvester Quuarless

 

As part of the 20^th Anniversary Celebrations of the Montreal Protocol last year, Grenada was presented with an award by the United Nations Environment Programme for its contribution to the Global Effort to protect the Ozone Layer.  One of the main contributing factors that resulted in Grenada being a recipient of this award was the implementation of a licensing system to control and monitor the importation of Ozone Depleting Substances.  Grenada having being set a Montreal Protocol target to completely phase out the importation of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) by the year 2010 was able to achieve this target by the end of 2006, four years ahead of the Protocol’s schedule.

The National Ozone Unit invites all to the activities planned for International Ozone Day on September 16^th, at the National Stadium.

For further information, please contact:

Leslie Smith

Project Officer

National Ozone Unit

Ministry of Finance

Tel:       440 2731 ext 1200

            409 8128

e-mail:  leslie.smith@gov.gd

            smithll31@hotmail.com

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