Myanmar fully complies with policies and commitments to conserve ozone layer

THE Ministry of Natural Re­sources and Environmental Conservation has confirmed that Myanmar is in full compliance with its commitments to protect the ozone layer, said deputy min­ister U Min Thu at World Ozone Day observance at the ministry’s office on 16 September.

Myanmar is a signatory to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, the Montreal Protocol on sub­stances that deplete the ozone layer and its four amendments: the London Protocol, the Copen­hagen Protocol, the Montreal Protocol, and the Paris Protocol, while it is in progress to be a member of the Kigali Amend­ment, the fifth to the Montre­al Protocol introduced in 2016 to reduce hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). By limiting HFCs, it could reduce the global tempera­ture increase by 0.5 degrees Cel­sius by the year 2100. As a party to the Montreal Protocol, Myan­mar has agreed to and followed the terms and the obligations.

Myanmar has restricted the import of ozone-depleting sub­stances, and has also imposed restrictions on the use of pesti­cides, while it is striving to raise public awareness and reduce the use of refrigerants like other world’s nations.

The deputy minister urged everyone to work together in the implementation of the issues related to the preservation of the ozone layer and combating climate change.

After videos from UN Secre­tary General Antonio Guterres, ozone layer awareness and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)’s executive director Ms Inger Adersen being displayed, the distinguished guests looked around the exhibition, and joined a group photo session.

To commemorate the World Ozone Day, posters were erected and information leaflets were distributed to the public in My­anmar. — Htun Htun/ZN