Ndey Sireng Bakurin, acting executive director, National Environment Agency (NEA), has said that September 16th is observed as World Ozone Day by all the parties to the Montreal Protocol. 

She said the theme for this year's celebration was "Universal participation; ozone protection unifies the world". The theme, she went on is self explanatory in the sense that not one person can protect and preserve this important global resource called the ozone layer and as such all and sundry should come together as unified to face the challenges of protecting and preserving the ozone layer.

Madam Bakurin was speaking recently at the celebration marking the World Ozone Day, held at the National Environment Agency head office in Kanifing. According to her, it is worth mentioning that this year's celebration is unique because the Montreal Protocol, as a multilateral environment agreement has attained universal ratification, which is a remarkable achievement. "So I would want to thank all the governments of the world for a job well done," she stated.

She added that a lot has been done by developing countries to totally eliminate substances that deplete the ozone layer, but that the world is currently faced with serious environmental hazards resulting from some harmful effects of climate change. The gases or refrigerant they use in their air conditioners, she posited, are partly to blame.

Ndey Sirrey Bakurin further said that January 1st, 2010, as enshrined in the Montreal Protocol to phase out Chlorofluoro Carbons is just at the next door. According to her, global warming is another environmental threat that the world is facing and some refrigerant used in their air conditioning systems contribute to the warming of the earth many times than the normal greenhouse gases like carbon monoxide emitted from their cars and factories. "We need to tighten our belts to face these numerous challenges and it can only be done if we come together," she concluded.