Doha, September 16 (QNA) - The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change stressed the importance of raising public awareness about protecting the ozone layer, promoting sustainable practices, and supporting international efforts to reduce the environmental and climate impacts associated with substances that affect the ozone layer.
Marking World Ozone Day 2026, observed annually on Sep. 16 and held this year under the theme "Global Action for a Cooler Planet," the Ministry noted that the occasion provides an opportunity to renew the commitment to protecting this vital component of the atmosphere and to strengthen the responsibility of various sectors of society toward the environment.
The Ministry stressed that it would continue its efforts to develop environmental awareness programs and strengthen partnerships with national institutions and various sectors, contributing to broader community participation in environmental protection and helping build a generation that is aware of environmental and climate challenges and capable of contributing to a more sustainable future.
The event included honoring the students who won the top three places in a competition on the best illustrated short story on protecting the ozone layer organized by the Ministry in cooperation with the Qatar Reads initiative, affiliated with Qatar National Library. Student Faisal Misfer Al Misifri won first place, student Al Maha Hisham Kazem took second place, and student Ali Mohammed Al Marri placed third.
Students from schools that won the scientific research competition on the Minamata Convention on Mercury, organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, were also honored. Al Ghuwairiya Girls School won first place at the preparatory level, Al Shahaniya Preparatory School for Girls placed second, and Al Shamal Preparatory School for Boys came third.
At the secondary level, Rawda Bint Mohammed Secondary School for Girls won first place, Qatar Technical Secondary School for Girls placed second, and Qatar Technical Secondary School for Boys came third.
This year's celebration comes as 10 years have passed since the adoption of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which strengthened global attention to sustainable cooling and reducing the environmental and climate impacts associated with refrigerants. The theme "Global Action for a Cooler Planet" highlights the importance of international cooperation and continued collective efforts to protect the ozone layer and support climate action.
The organization of the event reflects the State of Qatar's commitment to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, as well as its commitment to supporting international efforts to protect the environment and reduce the impacts of substances affecting the ozone layer and the climate, in line with the country's sustainable development objectives.
The competition formed part of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change's awareness initiatives aimed at instilling environmental awareness among children and young people and encouraging them to engage positively with environmental and climate issues by transforming environmental knowledge into messages and stories presented in a simple and innovative manner.
The entries addressed several topics related to protecting the ozone layer, including its importance in safeguarding the planet, the role of the Montreal Protocol in preserving it, the responsibilities of individuals and society toward the environment, as well as practical solutions and positive behaviors that can be adopted in everyday life to support sustainability.
The entries were evaluated by a specialized judging panel according to artistic and creative criteria that included the level of innovation, relevance to the theme of protecting the ozone layer and the environment, clarity of the message and its awareness-raising impact, the quality of the narrative and language, the quality of the illustrations and visual design, and compliance with the competition's requirements.
The event also honored Qatar Cool in recognition of its environmental initiative in refrigerant management and reclamation through a specialized refrigerant reclamation facility, reflecting the private sector's contribution to adopting sustainable environmental solutions and reducing the environmental and climate impacts associated with refrigerants. (QNA)