Public Information 

The discovery of the ozone 'hole' in 1985 shocked the world. It is regarded as one of this century's major environmental disasters.

It took 11 years of assessment, research, and negotiations to promote the first general ozone agreement in 1985. This agreement, known as the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, was a pledge to protect the ozone layer. The specific committments came in 1987 through the Montreal Protocol.

The efforts of the world community to protect the ozone layer is a fascinating example of how humanity can act as one to face a common danger.