Climate change is now widely recognized as the major environmental challenge facing the globe. Many individuals, institutions and communities are working hard to find climate-friendly solutions and put them into practice, across a diverse range of sectors in terms of the “non-CO2” climate gases. What many people do not realize is that we have a number of solutions at hand. Protecting the climate while protecting the Ozone layer is one of them.
Thanks to the diligent efforts of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in meeting their compliance commitments since 1987, the ozone layer is now on the road to recovery. By phasing out the high-GWP ozone depleting gases, the Protocol has made a significant contribution to protecting the climate and it is poised to do more during the phase out of HCFCs, It is one part of the overall package of climate solutions needed to address the climate change challenge.
The Virtual Tour encourages people to learn more about the ozone-climate connection and to explore the possibilities of additional benefits through the HCFC phase out opportunity.
The Tour, created by the OzonAction Branch of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is an international campaign launched to unite people and trigger action. Launched in Bangkok on 12th November 2010, where the 22nd Meeting of Parties to the Montreal Protocol took place, the tour has moved through different regions, making stop-offs in Yerevan (Armenia), Beirut (Lebanon), Kinshasa (Congo) and Cancun (Mexico) where the last UN Climate Negotiations took place.
After a short break, the Virtual Tour is on the road again! The Virtual Tour's next stops will include Belgrade (Serbia), Malé (Maldives), Antarctica, Bangkok (Thailand), Bali (Indonesia) and Durban (South Africa) where our leaders will meet at the next United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
As you will « tour » with us through the pages of the blog, you will become part of the movement, pick up background information on ozone and climate change and inspiring actions all other the world that help protect the ozone layer while reducing climate change. While traveling with us, you will have a better understanding of how the ozone layer protection is making a difference.