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Colombo Declaration on renewed commitment to the protection of the ozone layer to mark the forthcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development, in 2002, the 15th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Multilateral Fund

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[Source: Annex V of the report of the Thirteenth Meeting of the Parties]

We Ministers of the Environment and Heads of Delegations at the 13^th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, held in Colombo from 16 to 19 October 2001,

Having participated, at the invitation of the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, in the high-level segment, held on 18 and 19 October 2001, of that Meeting of the Parties,

Having noted the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Multilateral Fund and its achievements to date for the protection of the ozone layer,

Recalling the progress made by all the Parties in phasing out ozone depleting substances,

Fully appreciating the efforts by national Governments, the Multilateral Fund, the United Nations Environment Programme and the various implementing agencies to make the Montreal Protocol the most successful multilateral environmental agreement and to achieve universal ratification,

Recognizing the interconnectedness of environmental issues such as climate change and ozone-layer depletion,

Recalling that the year 2002 will be the 10th anniversary of the Rio Conference on Environment and Development, the Earth Summit, and the 15th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol,

Recognizing the importance of sharing the experience gained under the Montreal Protocol with other multilateral environmental agreements in order to achieve the same progress under those agreements;

Declare:

1. That we are pleased to note the significant contributions made by the Multilateral Fund during the last 10 years in the implementation of the Montreal Protocol, that has made possible significant progress in compliance by Article 5 countries;
2. That we express our sincere gratitude to the Governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, experts and individuals that have contributed to that progress;
3. That we urge Governments and all stakeholders to take due care in using new substances that may have an ODP, and to take informed decisions on the use of transitional substances;
4. That we appeal to the Article 5 Parties to sustain the permanent phase-out of ODS and comply with their phase-out obligations by establishing the necessary domestic policy and legal regimes;
5. That we appeal to all Parties to cooperate in ensuring that the Multilateral Fund receives the necessary replenishment for its next triennium, 2003 - 2005;
6. That we appeal to all non-Article 5 Parties to continue their efforts to contribute to the Multilateral Fund;
7. That we urge Parties to identify and use available, accessible and affordable alternative substances and technologies that minimize environmental harm while protecting the ozone layer;
8. That we are fully aware that much work remains to be done to ensure the protection of ozone layer;
9. That we decide to share the successful experience of the Montreal Protocol at the World Summit on Sustainable Development to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002.

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