Decision XXXVII/14: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

The Thirty-Seventh Meeting of the Parties,

Noting that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines acceded to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, to the London Amendment and the Copenhagen Amendment on 2 December 1996 and to the Montreal Amendment and the Beijing Amendment on 11 May 2009, that it ratified the Kigali Amendment on 7 November 2022, and that it is classified as a party operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Protocol,

Noting also that the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol has approved 1,780,193 United States dollars from the Multilateral Fund in accordance with Article 10 of the Protocol in order to enable Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to achieve compliance with the Protocol,

Noting further that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has reported, for 2024, annual consumption of 45,975 CO2-equivalent tonnes of the controlled substances in Annex F to the Montreal Protocol (hydrofluorocarbons), which exceeds the party’s maximum allowable consumption of 25,280 CO2‑equivalent tonnes of hydrofluorocarbons for 2024, and that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is therefore in non‑compliance with the hydrofluorocarbon consumption control measures under the Protocol,

Decides:

  1. To note with appreciation the submission by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines of an explanation for its non-compliance and a plan of action to ensure its return to compliance with the hydrofluorocarbon consumption control measures of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 2035;
  2. To note that the submitted plan of action includes a prolonged timeline for the party to return to compliance;
  3. To request Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to submit a revised plan of action once its Kigali implementation plan has been approved by Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol;
  4. To urge Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to work with relevant implementing agencies to develop its plan of action to phase down consumption and production of hydrofluorocarbons;
  5. To monitor closely the progress of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines with regard to the implementation of its obligations under the Montreal Protocol. To the extent that the party is working towards and meeting specific control measures under the Protocol, it should continue to be treated in the same manner as a party in good standing. In that regard, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines should continue to receive international assistance to enable it to meet those commitments in accordance with item A of the indicative list of measures that may be taken by the Meeting of the Parties in respect of non‑compliance;
  6. To caution Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, in accordance with item B of the indicative list of measures that may be taken by the Meeting of the Parties in respect of non‑compliance, that, in the event that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines fails to return to compliance, the parties will consider measures consistent with item C of the indicative list of measures, which may include the possibility of actions available under Article 4, such as ensuring that the supply of hydrofluorocarbons that are the subject of non‑compliance is ceased so that exporting parties do not contribute to a continuing situation of non‑compliance.