Samoa celebrated World Ozone Day on Wednesday. The occasion also marked 33 years since the Montreal Protocol was signed and 35 years of global ozone layer protection under the Vienna Convention.

The theme for World Ozone Day 2020 was "Ozone for life."

The event was held at the Samoa Meteorology Division Office at Mulinuu on Wednesday evening.

In attendance was the Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O) of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (M.N.R.E), Ulu Bismarck Crawley, Head of the United Nations Environment Programme (U.N.E.P) office in Apia, Sefanaia Nawanda on behalf of U.N.E.P the Implementing Agency for the Montreal Protocol in Samoa and the President of the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Association of Samoa, Niulevaea Ropati Tyrell.

The event also gathered various stakeholders including Government Ministries, Non-Government Organisations (N.G.O) and the Private Sector to celebrate Samoa’s achievements in protecting the ozone layer.

According to an M.N.R.E media release, the emphasis of this year’s celebration was on Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) services using ozone depleting substances and global warming potent refrigerants. 

In July the M.N.R.E in collaboration with the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Association of Samoa organised a three day training for technicians in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning industry on flammable refrigerants. Technicians that took part in the trainings were presented with certificates at the World Ozone Day programme on Wednesday evening.

As Samoa prepares to phase down Hydrofluorocarbons under the Kigali Amendment, M.N.R.E C.E.O Ulu Bismarck Crawley stated that "As we take necessary measures to phase down Hydrofluorocarbons under the Kigali Amendment we ought to be vigilant of the changes it will bring, hence, the emphasis for our program today, to provide awareness on regulatory developments under the Montreal Protocol towards RAC technologies."

“In light of these difficult times with restrictions attributed to COVID-19, integrated international response towards ozone protection is facing challenges. Nevertheless, we strive to keep the momentum of national activities to strengthen our Customs border control, build the capacity of our RAC Industry, and promote public awareness on ozone protection," Ulu stated in his keynote address.

The Government acknowledges the assistance of U.N.E.P and the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Protocol enabling the implementation of ozone protection activities in Samoa.