Malawians commemorated World Ozone Day on 16th September, 2024 with a ceremony at Soche Technical College in Blantyre, recognized as a center of excellence for ozone-friendly technologies. The event, themed “Montreal Protocol: Advancing Climate Action,” emphasized Malawi’s dedication to environmental preservation.
Key figures in attendance included Secretary for Natural Resources and Climate, Dr. Yusuf Mkungula, United Nations Resident Representative Patrick Salifu, and Director of the Environmental Affairs Department, Tawonga Mbale-Luka. The event featured exhibitions on ozone-depleting substance (ODS) reduction technologies, performances, and speeches, attracting a large crowd.
In his address, Dr. Mkungula praised Soche Technical College for its leadership in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning sector, noting its role in capacity-building efforts. He highlighted the recent donation of new training equipment from UNIDO, underscoring its importance in safeguarding the environment.
Patrick Salifu, representing the United Nations Environment Programme, stressed the need for collective action to eliminate ozone-depleting substances and urged a transition to environmentally friendly, naturally occurring gases.
Mr Mabveka, Soche Technical College’s principal encouraged students to fully engage with the state-of-the-art equipment in their refrigeration and air conditioning courses to address challenges posed by ozone-depleting gases.
The Montreal Protocol, adopted in 1987, is an international treaty designed to phase out ozone-depleting substances like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). As one of the most successful environmental agreements, ratified by all UN member states, it has not only supported the recovery of the ozone layer but also contributed to mitigating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
