September 14, 2017, UNEP Newscentre

In honour of the 30th anniversary of the landmark Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the Ozone Secretariat at UN Environment and the global community are launching a public engagement campaign to celebrate the international agreement’s success in protecting Earth against ozone depletion and mitigating climate change.

The Ozone Heroes campaign seeks to inspire the same collaborative energy that propelled the Montreal Protocol’s mission and led to its continued success in protecting all life on Earth.

The campaign created by the Ozone Secretariat in partnership with Marvel, the company behind some of the world’s most beloved superheroes, will commence on 15 September, on the eve of World Ozone Day in Montreal, Canada, where world leaders first gathered 30 years ago to take action to stop the thinning of the earth’s ozone layer.

"Thirty years ago the world proved it can come together and tackle a global problem with global resolve. The result is that the shocking damage to the ozone layer was halted, and today there are signs it is recovering," said Erik Solheim, head of UN Environment.

"But this planet-saving work does not stop here, and now is not the time to rest on our laurels. The Montreal Protocol is as necessary today as it was in the 1980s, not just for the ozone layer but also as part of global efforts to halt climate change. Our continued success depends on the emergence of a new generation of heroes."

"The ozone story continues to inspire. It shows what can be achieved if we listen to the science, put aside our differences and act on behalf of our planet," said Tina Birmpili, head of the Ozone Secretariat. "Life on earth as we know it today is because 30 years ago, nations across the globe came together and showed that everything is possible. Our message today is that this must not just be a one-off."