Schools help ozone to finally 'heal'

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, through its Philippine Ozone Desk (POD), has started to involve schools and make the students aware on the continuing efforts to protect the ozone layer. The move is in commemoration of 25 years of protecting the world’s ozone layer through the Montreal Protocol. A “25” human formation participated in by high-school students in Quezon City marked the occasion. Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said that this year’s celebration would feature how the world has benefited from the world’s commitment to the Montreal Protocol. “Scientists have observed that after 25 years, the ozone is finally healing, and it will continue to heal with our cooperation with the Montreal Protocol. This is good news, because this means that a healing ozone layer means a healing earth that future generations can enjoy,” he said. Paje added that the gradual recovery of the ozone layer also meant that millions of cases of skin cancer and cataracts are also being prevented. Reducing ODS in the atmosphere also meant reducing global warming because most ODS are also greenhouse gases or GHGs, he added.