NAHARLAGUN, 16 Sep: The Arunachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (APSPCB) celebrated World Ozone Day with a special interactive programme at its office here on Wednesday. The theme of this year's celebration was "Global Action for a Cooler Planet - Celebrating 10 years of Sustainable Cooling under the Kigali Amendment."

The core objective of the event was to encourage industries to adopt eco-friendly technologies, curb the use of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In his keynote address, APSPCB scientist-B Nich Meji stressed that rapid industrial growth must be aligned with environmental conservation and that compliance with environmental norms is mandatory for industries.

EIACP hub programme officer Anjan Chamuah, in his address, educated the gathering on the vital role of the ozone layer in shielding the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation.

He explained that 'good ozone' in the stratosphere protects us, while 'bad ozone' at ground level is a pollutant. He explained in detail the primary causes and long-term impacts of ozone depletion due to chemicals such as CFCs and HCFCs used in ACs and refrigerators, which led to the creation of the ozone hole.

Chamuah outlined the critical steps required for its protection, urging local industries to strictly monitor chemical emissions, transition away from ODS and adopt energy-efficient alternatives in their manufacturing and cooling systems, as mandated under the Montreal and Kigali agreements.

Assistant environmental engineer Thana Manlong also appealed to the public to maintain their ACs and refrigerators properly, get servicing done only by trained technicians, keep AC temperatures at 24°C and spread awareness about the Montreal Protocol.

APSPCB assistant environmental engineer Ranjeev Kimsing highlighted the significance of World Ozone Day.

Officials, including environmental experts and representatives from various industrial units and healthcare facilities in the capital region, attended the programme. Industrial representatives also participated in technical and interactive sessions.

All participants, including industry representatives, took a pledge to reduce their carbon footprint and transition towards green industrial standards during the celebration.