At the present stage of development of civilization, humanity faced with extremely acute problems of ensuring environmental safety and maintaining ecological balance. These issues go far beyond national boundaries and are global, and therefore their solution requires coordinated efforts by the entire human community. One such issue is the preservation of the Ozone Layer.

On March 22, 1985, the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was adopted to protect human health and the environment from the effects of Ozone Layer Depletion. The Convention establishes the general international legal framework to overcome the problem of Ozone Layer Depletion. Ukraine joined the Vienna Convention on for the Protection of the Ozone Layer on May 20, 1986.

The Convention of September 16, 1987, adopted the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol) to protect the Ozone Layer by adopting preventive measures to control equitably total global emissions of substances that deplete it.

Ukraine joined the Montreal Protocol in 1988. Also, Ukraine has ratified the London, Copenhagen, Montreal and Peking amendments to the basic Montreal Protocol, thereby committing itself to reduce the worldwide use of Ozone-Depleting Substances greatly. Despite the difficulties of the transition period, Ukraine gradually realizes its commitments on the cessation of production and use of Ozone-Depleting Substances and implements a strategy for the country's transition to Ozone-Depleting Substances.

Based on an agreement, dated September 15, 1998, between Ukraine and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development in respect of Global Environment Facility Trust Fund grant with the support of the Global Environment Facility, a project for the seizure of Ozone-Depleting Substances was implemented. Within the framework of this project, the largest enterprises of Ukraine that used Ozone-depleting substances in production processes received equipment and equipment that allowed the removal of around 990 tons of Ozone-Depleting Substances from circulation. At the present stage of the implementation of the Montreal Protocol a gradual withdrawal from the treatment of transitional substances – hydrochlorofluorocarbons are carried out.

The importance of the Montreal Protocol and international programs aimed at its implementation is also confirmed by the number of States that have ratified this document. To date, the Parties to the Montreal Protocol have 197 states, which thus confirmed their intentions to take the necessary measures to preserve the ozone layer by halting the production and use of Ozone-Depleting Substances.

In conclusion, I would like to add a link with a  fantastic cartoon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Kya3k60qGE which we showed on September,16 at the Ministry of Ecology and Natural resources.