India joins the World Ozone Day celebration on Saturday

Union Environment Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan and other dignitaries were present at the inauguration.

The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out substances that deplete it.

"On India’s insistence, energy efficiency has been brought as an eligible component of funding under the Montreal Protocol #KigaliAmendment," tweeted the Environment Minister.

The Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer reached agreement at their 28th Meeting of the Parties on October 15, 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda to phase-down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

He said that the Kigali Amendment to the Protocol would avoid upto 0.5°C of Global Warming by end of the century, while continuing to protect the ozone layer.

In another tweet, the minister said, "Under #KigaliAmendment, India will freeze production/consumption of HFCs in 2028 with reference to the baseline years 2024, 2025 and 2026."

The ozone layer, a fragile shield of gas, protects the Earth from the harmful portion of the rays of the sun, thus helping preserve life on the planet.

The phaseout of controlled uses of ozone depleting substances and the related reductions have not only helped protect the ozone layer for this and future generations, but have also contributed significantly to global efforts to address climate change; furthermore, it has protected human health and ecosystems by limiting the harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching the earth, according to a United Nations release.

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