ISLAMABAD: Participants of a day-long conference on the Kigali Amendment on Wednesday stressed that getting rid of 13 ozone depleting substances (ODS) including hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) and chloronuorocarbons (CFC)is imperative for protecting the ozone layer, which protects all life on earth and is a shield against the ultraviolet rays from the sun.

Environmentalists, industrialists, manufacturers and aca-demia ple dge d to work together with the climate change ministry to phase out the use of ozone layer depleting substances in Pakistan in according with the Montreal Protocol.

The event was hosted by the Ozone Cell of the Ministry of Climate Change in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Program in order to discuss the various aspects and the way forward in regards to the use of ozone depleting gases in Pakistan.

Participants deliberated over how harmful substancesare splitting the ozone layer and that ozone depletion had led to a global concern as the thinning of the protective coat is letting harmful ultraviolet rays pass through, leading to many health hazards such as skin cancer, cataract and damage to plants.

Participants were told that the ozone layer is a belt of naturally occurring gasses and sits 9.3 to 18.6 miles above earth.

It serves as a shield from harmful ultraviolet B radiation from the sun.

Ozone has a highly reactive molecule which contains threeoxygen atoms.

United Nations Environment Program Asia Pacific Regional Director Dechen Tsering, who was attending as chief guest, said ozone depleting substances generally contain chlorine, fluorine, bromine, carbon and hydrogen in varying proportions and are often described by the general term of halocarbons.

Hydro chlorofluorocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons, carbon tetrachloride and methyl chloroform are important human-produced ozone-depleting gases that are used in many appliancesincluding refrigeration, air conditioning, foam blowing, cleaning of electronics components and as solvents.

She appreciated the commitment of Pakistan to phasing out ozone depleting substances under the Montreal Protocol, which was considered to be the most successful global environmental agreement setting out commitments by every country in the world to eliminate production and use of the chemicals that damaged the ozone layer.

The Kigali Amendment was sealed during the 28th Meetingof Parties to the Montreal Protocol in the Rwandan capital and sought to phase down production and consumption of hydro fluorocarbons (HCFCs) to avoid up to 0.5 degrees centigrade of warming by 2100.

Participants observed that Pakistan was able to reduce 10 pc use of HCFCs by 2015 under its HCFCPhase-outManagement Plan (HPMP).

The country is on track to achieve more than 35 pc reduction in HFC use in air conditioning systems, refrigerators and other appliances producedby the industrial sector in the country.

Secretary Climate Change Ministry Syed Abu Ahmad Akif emphasized the need to rationalize or optimize the use of natural resources to protect humans, biodiversity and environment from devastating impacts of natural calamities including ozone depletion.

He said using electric appliances, particularly air conditioning systems and refrigerators prudently would help reduce pressure on our energy systems and local heat impacts in our urban areas.