Kinshasa, September 16th, 2025 (CPA). – Protecting the ozone layer is an investment in the future, providing young people with a healthy environment, has explained the Minister in charge of the Environment, Sustainable Development and the New Climate Economy on Tuesday in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, in a message on the occasion of International Ozone Day. « Protecting the ozone layer means investing in our future. It means providing our youth with a healthy environment, prospects for sustainable development and the pride of contributing to a universal cause.
By joining forces and combining our determination, we can protect the ozone layer, combat climate change and preserve our common good: planet Earth, » has declared Marie Nyange, Minister in charge of Environment, Sustainable Development and the New Climate Economy. The Minister has explained that the 2019 amendment on hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs) has paved the way for more environmentally friendly alternatives.
In this regard, she has emphasised that the refrigeration and air conditioning sector is at the heart of this issue. ‘Although some of its products are harmful to the atmosphere, this sector remains essential to our socio-economic development, as it ensures comfort in our homes, offices, vehicles and aeroplanes, the preservation of food in cold rooms, supermarkets, butcher’s shops and mortuaries, and the preservation of vaccines, medicines and laboratory products,’ she has explained. According to her, the theme chosen for 2025, ‘From Science to Global Action’, reminds the national and international community that only collective action, enlightened by science, can meet global challenges. She has indicated that the results are encouraging, with the ozone layer now showing tangible signs of recovery, proof that international cooperation is having a positive impact.
Call for ratification of the amendment on hydro fluorocarbons
In addition, Ms Marie Nyange has called on DRC parliamentarians to ratify the amendment on HFCs, arguing that the fight against global warming is not only a matter for governments, but the responsibility of every Congolese citizen. She has also called on scientists and researchers to continue to educate and raise awareness in society; on refrigerant importers to strictly comply with national standards; on control and inspection services to ensure rigorous enforcement of laws; and on refrigeration and air conditioning technicians and professionals to adopt responsible and sustainable practices. In 1987, the world had united around the Montreal Protocol, a historic agreement that has drastically reduced the use of ozone-depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Thanks to this collective commitment, science now confirms that the ozone layer is on the road to recovery. However, this victory remains fragile and requires vigilance, discipline and innovation.