In collaboration with the Manipur Pollution Control Board, the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change is organizing the State level observance of World Ozone Day in the Directorate Hall. The UN theme of this year is ‘From science to Action. The session commenced with the welcome and key note from Gyanen Urikhinbam, Programme Officer and Dr. T. Brajakumar Singh, Director, Directorate of Environment and Climate Change. In his speech, Gyanen Urikhinbam highlighted the importance of Ozone layer and its contribution in protecting the planet earth. While, Dr. T. Brajakumar, Director said that the celebration of ozone day is not about the past achievement but it is a call to action for present and future generations. He also suggests that the UN theme ‘From science to global action’ defined the architectural science in guiding the light for policy, cooperation and sustainable living on a global scale. He concluded by banning of single use policy is one good step in securing a healthier future for the planet.
Dr. W. Roshan Singh, Member Secretary, Manipur Pollution Control Board delivered an insightful presentation on the history of ozone depleting substances. He began by introducing the chemicals widely used in refrigeration, Air conditioning, solvents and foam blowing industries. He elaborated about Montreal Protocol and its path to avoid billions of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, how ozone protection policies can contribute directly to climate change mitigation.
The program was then taken over by Dr. Y Niveda Devi, State Nodal Officer for the National Program on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH), who delivered an engaging presentation on climate change and air pollution, linking to ozone depletion and health impact. Dr. Niveda began by highlighting how climate change is not just an environmental issue but a significant public health challenge. She emphasized that climate change affects the fundamental determinants of health, including clean air, safe drinking water, food security, and shelter. In her presentation, she outlined the direct and indirect health impacts of climate change. She elaborated the direct impacts that include the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, floods, and storms, which directly endanger lives.
Dr. Likmabam Sanjoy Meitei, Assistant Professor, Dhnamanjuri University made his remark on the role of scientific community in the UN target on ozone layer protection. He said that the need of time is to change small behaviour in our choices like using ozone friendly products, avoiding harmful chemicals, detecting illegal activity, addressing climate interaction, steering policy adjustments and supporting environmental strategies etc.
At Chandel, the global observance of “World Ozone Day” was held today at the Secretariat Community Hall, Chandel District Headquarters.
The programme was attended by L. Nandakumar Singh, DC Chandel; Dr. N. Munal Meitei, DFO Chandel; Md. Firoj Khan, ADC Chandel; Francis Thamdok, President of CNPO; and David Boyes, Vice President of Naga Hoho, who graced the function as Chief Guest, President, and Guest of Honour respectively.
Held under the theme “From Science to Global Action,” the event was participated by around 120 people, including District Level Officers, Village Chiefs, and members of Self Help Groups.
L Nandakumar Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Chandel speaking on the occasion stated that, to save Ozone layer, we need to plant more trees and focused towards sustainable development.
Delivering his speech as Guest of Honour, David Boyes said that the authorities need to prohibit the use of Ozone depleting substance and the public should refrain from using ozone depleting substance.
In today’s programme, while delivering the welcome address, Dr. N. Munal Meitei, DFO Chandel, stated that human activities have disturbed the balance of nature and that the present generation is facing many challenges because of it. He recalled that the discovery of ozone holes in 1973 was one of the most alarming threats to life on Earth. However, after the United Nations adopted the Montreal Protocol on September 16, 1987, declaring the need to protect the ozone layer, the global observance of World Ozone Day officially began in 1994.
He further mentioned that although the emission of ozone-depleting substances have been discontinued across the world, however, we will have to burnt the effect of depleted ozone for another 100 years.