The Ozone Secretariat of the United Nations Environment Program honored the Chinese Government for its contribution to ozone layer protection in an event marking this year's International Ozone Layer Protection Day on September 16.

Zhang Lijun, Chinese Vice Minister of Environmental Protection, said at the event that China has phased out more than 100,000 tons of ozone depleting substances (ODS) since 1991, an amount that accounted for around half the total disposed of by developing countries.

Since signing the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1991, China has continued to improve its management over ODS and phase out ODS production and consumption, contributing greatly to global efforts in ozone layer protection, Zhang said.

He admitted that China will face an "extremely arduous" task in meeting the goal of the next phase of ODS elimination set by the protocol.

Ozone shields the Earth from harmful solar ultraviolet radiation.