Bhutan joined the global community today in celebrating World Ozone Day 2025, celebrating the achievements of the Montreal Protocol and reaffirming the country’s commitment to protecting the ozone layer and addressing climate change.
This year’s celebration was held under the global theme “From Science to Global Action”, reflecting the journey of scientific discovery that led to the recognition of ozone depletion and the historic international response through the Montreal Protocol, one of the most successful environmental agreements in history.
The event was graced by His Excellency, the Minister, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, with distinguished representatives from the UN RCO, UNDP, UNICEF, and FAO, government agencies, development partners, academic institutions, and the youth in attendance.
A key highlight of the celebration was Bhutan’s progress in phasing out ozone-depleting substances. Having already achieved a 97.5% reduction in hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) R-22, Bhutan enters a critical phase of its HCFC phase-out schedule beginning this year.
Starting 2025, the country is allowed to import and use only 127 kilograms of HCFC-22 annually until its complete phase-out in 2035. The event served as a timely platform to raise public awareness on the importance of choosing climate- and ozone-friendly refrigerants and ensuring responsible servicing practices.
As part of the celebration, a free air-conditioner servicing campaign was conducted on September 12, 2025, by technicians from Technical Training Institute (TTI) Thimphu. The campaign focused on filter and fan cleaning, pressure checks, leak detection, refrigerant checks, and refilling where possible. Beyond providing immediate improvements in cooling efficiency, the initiative demonstrated how science-based practices can be applied on the ground to protect both the ozone layer and the climate. The technicians were provided with certificates for their volunteerism.
Another highlight of the event was the launch of Bhutan’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), reaffirming the country’s holistic approach to environmental protection.
