Cambodia Joins the World in Marking Ozone Day

PHNOM PENH — Sept. 16, 2026: Cambodia today joined countries around the globe in observing the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, marked every September 16 to commemorate the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987.

This year's theme, "Global action for a cooler planet," celebrates the Montreal Protocol and the impact of its Kigali Amendment, ten years after it was adopted.

The ozone layer is a thin shield high in the atmosphere that filters out most of the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays, protecting people, animals and crops. The Montreal Protocol has shown that science-based policy, universal participation and dedicated financing can deliver real results — protecting the ozone layer while helping countries move to safer, more sustainable alternatives.

Cambodia has been part of this global effort since ratifying the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol in 2001. The Kingdom completed its phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons in 2010 and is now working to eliminate remaining ozone-depleting substances by 2030. In 2021, Cambodia also ratified the Kigali Amendment, extending its commitment to safer, climate-friendly cooling.

In his message for the day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the Kigali Amendment tackles hydrofluorocarbons — potent greenhouse gases used for cooling. "As temperatures rise and extreme heat becomes more common, access to efficient cooling saves lives," he said. "We must meet that need fairly and sustainably."


Fully implemented, the Kigali Amendment alone could avoid up to 0.5°C of global warming by the end of the century — and twice as much when paired with energy-efficient cooling.

"On this World Ozone Day, I urge all countries to ratify and implement the Kigali Amendment, accelerate the shift to sustainable cooling, and protect people and planet," Guterres said.

For Cambodia, the day is a quiet reminder that a small country can play a real part in protecting a shared sky.

Source: United Nations


UNEP Ozone Secretariat


Reported by The Khmer Daily Network