Ref: Oz.Sec./World Ozone Day 2023                                                                    Date: 23 May 2023

Dear Parties to the Montreal Protocol and other Stakeholders,

I am pleased to confirm the theme for this year’s World Ozone Day on 16 September.  It is:

Montreal Protocol: fixing the ozone layer and reducing climate change

This year’s theme aims to highlight and reiterate the positive impact of the Montreal Protocol on ozone layer recovery and reducing climate change, especially through the Kigali Amendment, which phases down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a group of strong greenhouse gases.

With universal ratification and full implementation of the Kigali Amendment, the avoided warming by 2100 is estimated to be up to 0.5º C. Combined with energy efficiency measures while phasing down HFCs, these gains could potentially double.

Our planet is heating up. Average temperatures are soaring and with it the demand for cooling. This could also increase the amount of HFCs being used and emitted. Universal ratification and implementation of the Amendment to phase down HFCs from cooling systems and make them more sustainable is a critical climate warming mitigation tool. 

With the theme visualized in the posters, we are inviting all parties to join the celebration of World Ozone Day and use the assets created to raise awareness among the public on the important work of the Montreal Protocol to safeguard us and the planet.

As always, the World Ozone Day theme and taglines are available in all the six official UN languages on the WOD 2023 website.

To further support your World Ozone Day communication activities, the Secretariat will also develop a comprehensive social media pack in all the six official UN languages along with additional materials such as the video message from UNEP’s Executive Director, which will be made available for further dissemination nearer to World Ozone Day 2023 here. 

As you prepare for your events, we would also be pleased to receive any information on your planned commemoration of World Ozone Day 2023 to be featured on our website and social media channels (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn)

As in-person events again are the norm, the Secretariat is pleased to provide limited financial assistance to selected developing countries to contribute towards organizing their national activities to commemorate the day. The Secretariat invites interested parties to submit their plans of celebration activities, including a planned budget, and requests for assistance by Friday, 30 June 2023. Kindly send them to the Secretariat at mea-ozoneinfo@un.org with a copy to stephanie.haysmith@un.org

As in previous years, the United Nations Secretary-General’s message for World Ozone Day will be shared prior to the day.

In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact the Secretariat for any clarification or further information you may require at mea.ozoneinfo@un.org or stephanie.haysmith@un.org

Yours sincerely

Megumi Seki Nakamura
Executive Secretary
Ozone Secretariat

UN Environment Programme
P.O.Box 30552-00100
Nairobi, Kenya

Telephone: +254 20 762 3452
Email: meg.seki@un.org
Website:  http://ozone.unep.org