Face2News/Chandigarh

World Ozone Day was celebrated with enthusiasm at Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh. The event was organized by the Climate Change Cell of the Department of Environment, the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC), in association with the Global Youth Federation. The theme for this year's celebration was "Montreal Protocol: Advancing Climate Actions" whichhighlights the vital role that the Protocol plays in preserving the ozone layer and promoting worldwide climate action programs.

The event commenced early in the morning at 7:30 am, with Sh. Saurabh Kumar, Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, Department of Forest Wildlife, Chandigarh, as the chief guest. Additional Director, Department of Forest, Sh. Navneet Kumar Srivastava, graced the occasion as the guest of honour. More than 100 students from Post-graduate Government College, Sector 11, and CCET, Sector 26, actively participated in the event.

The students, faculty members, and departmental officialsfoster a spirit of environmental stewardship and commitment to protecting our planet. This event piqued the interest of the by-passers on the lake out for a morning walk.

The celebration began with an insightful interaction between the chief guest and the students, where the significance of World Ozone Day was highlighted. Sh. Saurabh Kumar discussed the critical role of the ozone layer in protecting life on Earth and encouraged students to adopt sustainable habits under Mission LiFE to minimize ozone-depleting activities.

The students then took the Ozone Pledge, vowing to promote the use of ozone-friendly products and reduce ozone-depleting emissions to safeguard the planet for future generations.

Following the pledge, the chief guest flagged off the Umbrella March, symbolizing the protective role of the ozone layer. The Umbrella March which was a key event of the celebration, symbolized the protective role of the ozone layer, with students carrying umbrellas to raise awareness about its importance in shielding the Earth from harmful UV radiation. The march proceeded from Sukhna Lake to Bird Park, with students carrying umbrellas to raise awareness about the importance of ozone protection. The symbolic event attracted attention from the local community, spreading the message of environmental conservation.

At Bird Park, Scientist, CPCC, Sh. Sushil Dogra, delivered an informative session, educating the students about the ongoing depletion of the ozone layer and how global efforts, such as the Montreal Protocol, have been instrumental in slowing down the process. The session concluded with a lively interaction, where students shared their experiences and thoughts on the day's activities.