Advancing climate action

The theme of ‘International Day for Preservation of Ozone 2024’, observed on September 16, was ‘Advancing climate action’.

The day commemorates the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987 to phase out the substances that deplete the ozone layer. An ozone sheet is a protective layer of gases in our atmosphere to safeguard life on Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiations of the sun.

The main causes of harm to the ozone layer are Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) which include CFCs, HCFCs, halons, methyl bromide, carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroform. These substances are used in refrigerators, air conditioners, fire extinguishers, etc. The international community has joined hands to protect the ozone layer through various actions to fulfil their commitments under the Montreal Protocol. The protocol is structured and evolved in a way to set various deadlines to phase out ODS making it a successful environmental treaty.

Pakistan has also made significant achievements in protecting the ozone layer through multiple initiatives to eliminate ODS in Pakistan. As Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in his message on International Ozone Day, “Pakistan phased out the first generation of Ozone Depleting Substances by 2009, and achieved a 50 per cent reduction in HCFC by January 2020. We are on track to meet our 67.5 per cent reduction target by 2025, having transitioned many industries to ozone-friendly technologies”.

Many lessons can be learned from the success of the Montreal Protocol. One reason is its flexible approach due to which it provides the space to include more substances according to emerging technologies and inventions. It also clearly defines the main areas that require to be focused for phasing out ODS. The protocol has helped nations prioritize those areas.

The multilateral fund and institutional support also helped nations build capacity, and provided financial and technical support to remove ODS. Most importantly, nations showed their commitment through practical steps by supporting each other and keeping aside their economic interests. The compliance procedure was another reason to successfully implement the Montreal Protocol and achieve its objectives. Such kind of seriousness and commitment directed all nations towards the single agenda of protecting the ozone layer.

The theme of the 2024 International Ozone Day also highlights the contribution of the Montreal Protocol to take action against climate change. According to the United Nations Environmental Programme, “Under the Kigali Amendment, actions to limit the use of HFCs under the Montreal Protocol are expected to prevent the emissions of up to 105 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent of greenhouse gases, helping to avoid up to 0.5 degree Celsius of global temperature rise by 2100”.

So, the success of the Montreal Protocol not only led to protecting the ozone layer but also helped fight global warming. This year’s theme further urges nations to fulfil their commitments under the Paris Agreement and take similar actions to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) to protect the planet from global warming.

The action taken for the protection of the ozone layer exemplifies the success stories of multilateralism and collective action that can be replicated for the Paris Agreement. However, the commitments made under the Paris Agreement are needed to be expedited to achieve the targets. The findings of the Global Stocktake discussed at COP28 also revealed more efforts to limit global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Rich nations that forgot the negative environmental impacts of their unsustainable development process are still busy acquiring their economic interests. Under the Paris Agreement, nations agreed to reduce their carbon emissions and to reach their ambitious targets in the National Determined Contributions (NDCs). But in reality, global carbon emissions are increasing, questioning the success of the Paris Agreement. As UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “I must call out the flood of fossil fuel expansion we are seeing in some of the world’s wealthiest countries. In signing such a surge of new oil and gas licenses, they are signing away our future.”

States across the globe need to understand the climate emergency and learn lessons from the success of the Montreal Protocol. There are multiple areas of climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts that require a multilateral approach and collective efforts to protect our planet.

One important area is climate finance. International funds like the Green Climate Fund and Loss and Damage Fund are established but require solid financial pledges from developed nations to collect enough funds to protect developing nations from the brunt of climate-led disasters. Similarly, NDCs should not be the only written documents but must consist of realistic targets to achieve, followed by concrete steps for implementation.

‘Advancing climate action’ is a call for nations to once again show multilateralism and collective efforts for a single objective: to accomplish the obligations of the Paris Agreement and limit global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The writer is a graduate of the University of Oxford in Public Policy. She tweets/posts @zilehumma_1 and can be reached at: zilehuma_1@hotmail.com