NAIROBI, Kenya — The successful global phase-out of ozone-depleting substances under the Montreal Protocol is expected to prevent nearly two million cases of skin cancer every year by 2030, according to new data released Tuesday by the UN Ozone Secretariat.
Executive Secretary Maria Socorro said that without the treaty, which has eliminated 99 percent of harmful substances, the world would have faced catastrophic health consequences.
“Failure to control ozone depletion effectively would have led to almost 63 million additional cataract cases in people born in the United States between 1890 and 2100,” Socorro said.
The statistics were shared as Kenya joined the world in commemorating the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer — popularly known as Ozone Day.
Kenya’s Commitment to Ozone Protection
Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa reaffirmed Kenya’s dedication to safeguarding the ozone layer, stressing that protecting humanity’s “shared heritage” requires both global solidarity and community-level action.
“Through science, cooperation and exchange of knowledge, the Vienna Convention laid the foundation for the Montreal Protocol — the most successful environmental treaty in history,” Barasa said.
This year’s theme, “40 Years of the Vienna Convention: From Science to Global Action,” celebrates decades of science-driven policies that have united nations in tackling ozone depletion.
Kenya ratified the convention and protocol in 1988 and has since endorsed all five amendments, including the Kigali Amendment, which targets hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) — powerful greenhouse gases.
The government has rolled out a national Cooling Action Plan to expand access to safe and affordable cooling in homes, hospitals, agriculture, and businesses.
It has also strengthened monitoring of imports and exports of controlled substances through the Kenya Revenue Authority and the National Environment Management Authority.
“All these efforts are designed to protect our ozone layer while mitigating climate change,” Barasa said, urging Kenyans to make environmentally conscious choices in their homes and businesses.
International Support
Germany has been a key partner in these efforts. Maren Kneller, Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy, said GIZ has supported 17 technical training institutions with modern tools and trained 35 refrigeration trainers.
Additionally, 300 customs officers have been trained to detect and regulate the importation of both ozone-depleting and non-depleting refrigerants through the integrated customs system.
Why It Matters
The ozone layer is Earth’s natural shield against the sun’s ultraviolet rays, which can cause skin cancer, eye cataracts, weakened immune systems, and harm to plants and animals.
By phasing out ozone-depleting chemicals, the Montreal Protocol — signed in 1987 and amended in Kigali in 2016 — has become one of the most effective international environmental agreements ever implemented.
As CS Barasa put it: “We want every Kenyan child, farmer, student, and worker to enjoy a healthy life, shielded from dangerous ultraviolet radiation and extreme heat.”
