Jordan is pressing ahead with its international commitments to protect the ozone layer, gradually eliminating ozone-depleting substances, tightening legislation and stepping up oversight of related industries, according to an awareness bulletin issued by the Ministry of Environment on the occasion of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.
اضافة اعلان
Through a phase-out project for hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) implemented between 2013 and 2024 with support from the World Bank Group, the Kingdom completely eliminated two major types of HCFCs and avoided more than 240,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. The ministry said that environmental impact is equivalent to removing more than 50,000 gasoline-powered vehicles from the roads for a full year.
The bulletin, released ahead of the observance on 16 September each year, said Jordan is implementing a package of internationally supported technical and legislative measures within a national strategy to phase out ozone-depleting substances, strengthen regulatory oversight and provide technical and training assistance.
The Ministry of Environment said the National Ozone Unit has played a central role in enforcing policies on ozone-depleting substances, monitoring industrial and commercial compliance, and developing national legislation to control the import and use of such substances and their alternatives. The ministry added that it works alongside the Jordanian Customs Department to train personnel on devices for detecting refrigerant gases and to curb illegal trade in ozone-depleting substances at border crossings.
The ministry also provides technical and financial support to local factories to help them transition from harmful gases to climate-friendly alternatives, particularly in the refrigeration, air conditioning and insulation sectors. Support measures include encouraging the use of natural alternatives with a low climate impact, organising training workshops for technicians and engineers, and running awareness campaigns tied to the annual observance day.
The ozone layer sits in the stratosphere at an altitude of between 15 and 35 kilometres above the Earth's surface. Composed of ozone gas, which contains three oxygen atoms, it absorbs most of the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation, particularly UVB rays. Its presence reduces the risk of skin cancer and eye disease, helps maintain immune system health, and protects agricultural crops and marine ecosystems, including the plankton that underpins ocean food chains.
Concern over the ozone layer grew with the widespread use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and related chemicals in refrigeration, air conditioning, insulation and aerosol products, before scientific studies linked them to ozone depletion. The international community responded with the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer in 1985, which established a framework for scientific cooperation and information sharing, followed by the Montreal Protocol in 1987, which set binding timetables for phasing out ozone-depleting substances.
The Kigali Amendment, adopted in 2016, extended the protocol's scope to cover hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). While HFCs do not deplete the ozone layer, they are potent greenhouse gases, and their inclusion strengthened the link between ozone protection and climate action.
According to international scientific assessments cited in the bulletin, the ozone layer is on the path to recovery. Projections indicate a return to 1980 levels by 2040 in most parts of the world and by 2066 over Antarctica, provided international commitments to phasing out ozone-depleting substances are maintained.
Jordan ratified the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol in 1989 and was among the first countries to ratify the Kigali Amendment in 2019. The National Ozone Unit was subsequently established within the Ministry of Environment to monitor the implementation of international obligations and coordinate with government agencies and the industrial and commercial sectors.
The ministry said the success of Jordan's experience in this field rests on ongoing partnerships with the World Bank, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the private sector. Those partnerships have contributed to strengthening national capabilities, modernising industrial practices, improving safety standards, increasing productivity, reducing waste and opening new export markets for businesses that have adopted environmentally compatible technologies.
Globally, the bulletin noted, about 98 percent of ozone-depleting substances have been eliminated compared to 1990 levels. Implementation of the Montreal Protocol has also helped avoid an additional rise in Earth's surface temperatures estimated at between 0.5 and 1 degree Celsius by reducing associated greenhouse gas emissions.
Jordan aims to complete the elimination of HCFC gases by 2030, in line with its Montreal Protocol commitments and its broader orientation toward a green economy, greater industrial competitiveness and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The United Nations established the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer in 1995 to mark the anniversary of the signing of the Montreal Protocol on 16 September 1987. The day highlights the role of science, research and international cooperation in addressing environmental challenges. (Petra)
Published on Al-Ghad.This article is based on material from Petra.
