The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer

When did we realize ozone depletion was an issue, and how did we fix it? By 1985, the globe had already seen advancements in the scientific understanding of ozone depletion and its impacts on human health and the environment. It was then that the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was created in response. This agreement is a framework convention that lays out principles agreed upon by many parties. It does not, however, require countries to take control actions to protect the ozone layer. This would come later in the form of the Montreal Protocol.

The Vienna Convention was the first convention of any kind to be signed by every country involved, taking effect in 1988 and reaching universal ratification in 2009. This speaks to the enormity of ozone depletion at the time and the willingness of countries around the world to work together to solve it. The Convention aimed to promote cooperation among nations by exchanging information on the effects of human activities on the ozone layer. In doing so, the creators of the Convention hoped policymakers would adopt measures to combat those activities responsible for ozone depletion.

Today, the Vienna Convention is still making progress.The countries involved meet once every three years to make decisions on important issues including on Research and Systematic observations as well as financial and administrative matters.

Annex III : Trust Fund for the Vienna Convention: status of contributions by Parties in 1990 and 1991

(31 MAY 1991)

COUNTRY 1990 1991
AGREED CONTTIBUTIONS IN US DOLLARS PAYMENTS MADE IN US DOLLARS OUTSTANDING PAYMENTS IN US DOLLARS AGREED CONTTIBUTIONS IN US DOLLARS PAYMENTS MADE IN US DOLLARS OUTSTANDING PAYMENTS IN US DOLLARS
Argentina1,54401,5443,64903,649
Australia5,2295,22908,68008,680
Austria2,4652,46504,09104,091
Bahrain000000
Bangladesh000000
Belgium3,8973,89706,46806,468
Brazil2,6002,6002,6008,01508,015
Brunei Darussalam000000
Bulgaria**0007260726
Burkina Faso000000
Byelorussian S S R1,0991,09901,82401,824
Cameroon000000
Canada10,29210,292017,083017,083
Chad000000
Chile000000
China2,2692,26903,76703,767
Colombia*1171171177740774
Czechoslovakia0003,64903,649
Denmark2,2982,2982,2983,81503,815
Ecuador000000
Egypt000000
Equatorial Guinea000000
Fiji000000
Finaland1,6991,69902,82002,820
France20,81620,816034,554034,554
Gambia000000
Germany, F.R.***31,17431,174044,67144,67144,671
Ghana000000
Greece1,3321,33202,21102,211
Guatemala000000
Hungary69969901,16101,161
Iceland000000
India**0001,10801,108
Iran0003,81503,815
Ireland6006000995995995
Italy13,28913,28913.28922,059022,059
Japan37,90337,903062,916062,916
Jordan000000
Kenya000000
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya*2332332331,54801,548
Liechtenstein5005000500500500
Luxembourg000000
Malawi000000
Malaysia3163163165250525
Maldives000000
Malta000000
Mexico3,1313,1313,1315,19705,197
Morocco000000
Netherlands5,4965,49609,1229,1229,122
New Zealand79979901,32701,327
Nigeria6666666661,10601,106
Norway1,8321,83203,0413,0413,041
Panama000000
Peru000000
Poland83083003,09603,096
Portugal6006006009950995
Sweden4,0304,03006,69006,690
Singapore36636606080608
South Africa1,2921,29202,48802,488
Spain6,4956,4956,49510,781010,781
Sri Lanka000000
Switzerland3,5973,59705,97105,971
Syrian Arab Republic000000
Thailand28728704770477
Togo000000
Trinidad and Tobago000000
Tunisia000000
Uganda000000
Ukrainian S S R4,1634,16306,91106,911
U S S R33,27333,273055,231055,231
United Arab Emirates5465465469060906
United Kingdom16,18716,187026,86926,8690
United States74,25060,00014,250123,25060,00063,250
Uruguay000000
Venezuela1,8981,89803,1512,0551,096
Yugoslavia71007102,54302,543
Zambia000000
EEC7,4257 425012,32512,3250
TOTAL308, 244261,44946,795523,509159,578363,931

NB: (*) New Parties who ratified during 1990.

(**) New Parties who ratified during 1991 and their contributions have been calculated on a prorata basis for remaining period.

(***) The GDR's contributions and the FRG's contributions have been combined. The 1990 figure is comprised of $4,263 plus $26,911, whereas the 1991 figure is comprised of $0 and $44,671.