On 16 September this year, the World Customs Organization (WCO) joins the international community to celebrate 35 years of work for the protection of the ozone layer. This layer of gas is the Earth’s shield, protecting it from the more harmful portion of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. The work to protect the ozone layer is therefore fundamental to the protection of human health and the ecosystem. This work is particularly relevant to the WCO this year, as it rallies the global Customs community around the theme of “Customs fostering Sustainability for People, Prosperity and the Planet”.
On this day, the WCO reiterates its support to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and OzonAction for the implementation of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment. The effective implementation of these Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) is instrumental in guaranteeing that products being traded are safe both for human health and the environment.
“Customs is a key player in the implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals”, according to the WCO Secretary General, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya. “Customs can enhance controls on transboundary movements of environmentally sensitive commodities by encouraging international cooperation, managing risks, and applying technology to data exchange and analytics.”
Customs officers are at the frontline of environmental protection. They play a critical role in the prevention and detection of illegal trade and in ensuring compliance with MEAs, including the Montreal Protocol. To support Customs in this mission, the WCO, in cooperation with OzonAction and the partners of the Green Customs Initiative, provides training and guidance to Customs officers around the world by increasing their knowledge, enhancing their skills and facilitating their access to information, so that they can successfully mitigate the illegal trade in ozone depleting substances (ODS). The WCO also coordinates global enforcement operations, such as the “Demeter” operations targeting illicit shipments of ODS. In 2019, Operation Demeter V resulted in Customs officers seizing 8,031 kg of illegally traded ODS.
Only through multilateral cooperation and continued capacity building can Customs successfully and durably implement MEAs and mitigate illicit trade. By developing a network of trust and enhancing intelligence gathering and exchange, Customs around the world are actively contributing to the protection of the planet and its people.