Ozone-layer must be preserved: UN

JAKARTA: The United Nations calls on its members, both the developed and developing countries, to strengthen commitment to the full compliance with the Montreal Protocol, in observance of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.

"Let us hope that the enormous gains that have been made under this agreement will inspire the parties to other multilateral environmental agreements to implement those obligations as well," the UN said in a statement, which was made available to The Jakarta Post by the UN Information Center in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed 17 years ago with doubts that it would be possible to phase out ozone-depleting substances within the short period as envisaged by the agreement.

"Today, more than 90 percent of the global production and consumption of those substances has indeed been phased out," the statement said.

However, there are some challenges to overcome before completing the job, such as financial and technical assistance for developing countries to reduce the consumption of some ozone- depleting substances, and the phasing-out of production and consumption of methyl bromide, and the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used in "inhalers" for treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. -- JP