REPORT ON CELEBRATION OF
WORLD OZONE DAY 2023
World Ozone Day, officially known as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, is celebrated annually on September 16th, sheds light on the importance of preserving this crucial layer. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness about the importance of preserving the Ozone layer. The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in the atmosphere is one of the most important and effective global agreement with 197 member countries of United Nations till today. It was signed on 16 September, 1987. Since 1995, this day is commemorated as the International Ozone Day. Necessary efforts have been undertaken throughout the world to phase out ozone-depleting substances and as a result, the hole in the ozone layer is healing leading towards protection of human health, economies and ecosystems. Beside this, the Montreal Protocol has also highlighted on climate change and helped to boost up energy efficiency in the cooling sector, which contributes to food security. This year's theme, "Montreal Protocol: Fixing the Ozone Layer and Reducing Climate Change," underscores the symbiotic relationship between ozone layer preservation and climate action. Preserving the ozone layer not only shields us from UV radiation but also contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The Environmental Awareness, Capacity Building & Livelihood Programme (EIACP) PC-RP on Biodiversity (Flora), Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and Central National Herbarium (CNH), BSI held a series of awareness programmes in the schools and college of Raidighi areas of South 24-Parganas in collaboration with Raidighi College, Raidighi, South 24-Parganas, to observe World Ozone Day. An awareness-raising session was conducted in Joykrishnapur A.N. Vidyapith on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, by BSI EIACP PC-RP and CNH, BSI, in association with Raidighi College, Raidighi, South 24-Parganas. In this programme ‘Sit & Draw competition’ and ‘Quiz Competition’ was organised among the students of 8 different schools of Raidighi area. The theme was ‘Save Ozone- Save Earth’. Around 78 students participated in these two events. Quiz Masters were Prof. Bidyut Saha and Dr. Suvankar Ghosh Roychowdhury. The judges of the Drawing competition were Dr. Payel Ghosh and Dr. Madhumita Majumder.