In 2025 this date is observed under the slogan “From Science to Global Action.”

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1994. Everyone knows that the ozone layer protects our planet from solar radiation, so the destruction of the ozone layer is a concern for all of humanity.

In 1985, the first “ozone hole” was discovered over Antarctica. Its diameter exceeded 1000 km. Then another hole was discovered over the Arctic. In total, there are currently more than a hundred holes, but the largest is still the one that was discovered first.

Although scientists continue to debate the extent of human influence on ozone holes, this day reminds us to protect the air and atmosphere around the Earth. Most ozone-depleting substances are also greenhouse gases, so reducing their emissions is in any case very important for solving environmental problems.

For reference: the average thickness of the ozone layer is approximately 3 millimetres. Ozone molecules (O₃) are concentrated at altitudes ranging from about 10 km to 50 km above the Earth’s surface and absorb the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation. The principal substances that threaten the ozone layer are chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, methyl bromide and other chemical compounds. Once released into the atmosphere, these substances break down ozone molecules. Ozone depletion has profoundly negative consequences not only for humanity but for the entire environment.