LOC15:23
12:23 GMT
By Amnah Al-Shimmari
KUWAIT, Sept 15 (KUNA) -- Kuwait will join world countries on Tuesday the celebration of the International Day for the Preservations of Ozone Layer with a variety of activities to raise public awareness about ozone layer protection.
"The activities include a documentary on the importance of ozone layer and efforts exerted to protect it; a lecture on the gradual disposal of the substances that are harmful to ozone layer; a ceremony to honor and present awards to individuals and bodies that are contributing to the national efforts to safeguard the ozone layer," Head of the National Committee for Ozone Layer Protection, an affiliate of the Public Environment Authority, Hayat Bu-Teyban told KUNA.
She underlined that Kuwait is giving great priority to ozone preservation efforts.
"The latest of Kuwaiti initiatives in this regard was environment law No. 42 of 2014 which dedicated two articles to back the national efforts to protect ozone layer," she said.
She noted that September 16 was designated by the United Nations General Assembly as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. This designation was made on December 19, 1994, in commemoration of the date, in 1987, on which over 190 nations signed the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
The theme for this year's celebration is "Ozone Layer Protection: The Mission Goes On". The Montreal Protocol has so far been successful in meeting some of its targets on phasing out ozone-depleting substances.
On the role of the National Committee, Bu-Teyban said that it is coordinating ozone protection efforts between international and local governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Moreover, the committee follows up relevant bodies' abidance by international standards in dealing with ozone layer-damaging substances, she said.
Bu-Teyban stated that Kuwait has successful implemented a national project for getting rid of the more dangerous and environment-damaging chlorofluorocarbons during the period 2000-2010 with the help of the UN Environment Programme.
Last May, the Environment Public Authority (EPA) unveiled plans to launch a national project for the gradual disposal of the climate-damaging hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).
The project is meant to protect the ozone layer from depletion substances as per a memo of understanding signed with the UN Environment Programme.
As per the plan, the National Committee for Ozone Protection sets some criteria for the companies' importation of the targeted substances with view to cutting to size the imported volume.
The committee will regulate the importation, exportation, transportation storage, monitoring and disposal of targeted substances and equipment as well as finding eco-friendly alternatives. (end)
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