DILI, 26 september 2024 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste celebrates World Ozone Day 2024 and reaffirms its commitment to contribute to the preservation of the Ozone Layer.
The Director General of the Environment of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, Francisco Soares, said that Timor-Leste is committed to implement the Montreal Protocol to help protect the ozone.
The preservation of the ozone layer would contribute to shielding carbon sinks, protecting humanity’s health, and avoiding economic losses.
“For the Government of Timor-Leste, environmentally friendly and sustainable development is not an option, but an obligation,” said Soares at the celebration of the World Ozone Day, at the Ministry of Finance, on thursday.
In september 2009, the Government of Timor-Leste ratified the Montreal Protocol for the reduction of substances that destroy the ozone layer.
In addition to the Montreal Protocol, Timor-Leste has also ratified other International Conventions, including the United Nations Framework to Combat Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol, the United Nations Convention for Biodiversity (UNCBD) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
Even though, under the UNFCCC, Timor-Leste as a developing country is not bound to reduce its greenhouse gases, and having also very low emission levels (around 0.01 Tonnes per capita per year), the State proposes itself to voluntarily reduce them.
Timor-Leste produced 0.01% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2021 (the latest date with complete emissions data). This amounted to 5.75m metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, or MtCO₂e. These emissions represented an increase from 2020 by 0.8%.
On the celebration of the World Ozone Day, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres urged all countries to implement the protocol: “On this World Ozone Day, let’s commit to making peace with our planet. Let’s commit to build on the success of the Montreal Protocol to show what international cooperation at its best can achieve.”
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
