The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is a global agreement to protect the Earth’s ozone layer by phasing out the chemicals that deplete it. This phase-out plan includes both the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances. The landmark agreement was signed in 1987 and entered into force in 1989.

The parties to the Protocol meet once a year to make decisions aimed at ensuring the successful implementation of the agreement. These include adjusting or amending the Protocol, which has been done six times since its creation. The most recent amendment, the Kigali Amendment, called for the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in 2016. These HFCs were used as replacements for a batch of ozone-depleting substances eliminated by the original Montreal Protocol. Although they do not deplete the ozone layer, they are known to be powerful greenhouse gases and, thus, contributors to climate change.

The Montreal Protocol provided a set of practical, actionable tasks that were universally agreed on. The Protocol has successfully met its objectives thus far and continues to safeguard the ozone layer today. Thanks to the collaborative effort of nations around the world, the ozone layer is well on its way to recovery.

Critical use exemptions: Eighteenth Meeting of the Parties (New Delhi, 30 October - 3 November 2006)

Source(s)
Annex to decision XVIII/13

Table A. 2007 agreed critical-use categories (metric tonnes)

Australia Cut flowers – bulbs – protected (3.598), Rice (4.075)
Canada Pasta (6.757), Strawberry runners (Ontario) (6.129)
France Chestnuts (1.800), Mills (8.000), Seeds (0.096), Carrots (1.400), Cucumbers (12.500), Cut flowers and bulbs (9.600), Forest nurseries (1.500), Orchard & raspberry nurseries (2.000), Orchard replant (7.000), Pepper (6.000), Strawberry runners (28.000)
Greece Dried fruit (0.450), Mills & processors (1.340)
Israel Dates (2.200), flour mills (1.040), broomrape (250.000), cucumber (25.000), cut-flowers – bulbs – protected (220.185), cut-flowers – open field (74.540), fruit tree nurseries (7.500), melon – protected & field (105.000), potato (137.500), strawberry runners (28.000), strawberry fruit (93.000), tomato (22.750)
Italy Artefacts (5.000), Mills and processors (25.000), Cut flowers – protected (30.000), Melon – protected (10.000), Pepper – protected (67.000), Strawberry runners (35.000), Tomatoes protected (80.000)
Netherlands Strawberry runners (0.120)
New Zealand Strawberry runners (6.234), Strawberry fruit (12.000)
Poland Coffee & cocoa beans (1.420), Medicinal herbs and mushrooms (1.800), Strawberry runners (24.500)
Spain Cut flowers (Andalucia & Catalonia) (43.490), Peppers (45.000), Strawberry fruit (0.0796 for research), Strawberry runners (230.000)
United Kingdom Aircraft (0.165), Cereal processing plants (3.480), Cheese stores (1.248), 13 Mills (4.509), Mills – Food processing (Biscuits) (0.479), Structures (Herbs & spices) (0.908), Structures (Whitworth) (0.257)

Table B: 2007 permitted levels of production and consumption (metric tonnes)

Australia 7.673
Canada 12.886
France * 77.896
Greece * 1.790
Israel 966.715
Italy * 252.000
Netherlands * 0.120
New Zealand 18.234
Poland * 27.720
Spain * 318.5696
United Kingdom * 11.046

* The production and consumption of the European Community shall not exceed 689.1416 metric tonnes for the purposes of the agreed critical uses.

Table C: 2008 agreed critical-use categories (metric tonnes)

Australia Cut flowers – bulbs – protected (3.500), Rice (7.400 + 1.8*), Strawberry runners (35.750)
Canada Mills (28.650); Strawberry runners (Prince Edward Island) (7.462)
Japan Chestnuts (6.300), Cucumbers (51.450), Ginger – field (84.075), Ginger – protected (11.100), Melon (136.650), Pepper green & hot (121.725), Watermelon (32.475)
United States of America Commodities (58.921), Cocoa beans (NPMA subset) (53.188), NPMA food processing structures (cocoa beans removed) (69.208), Mills and processors (348.237), Smokehouse ham (19.669), Cucurbits – field (486.757 ), Eggplant – field (66.018), Forest nursery (131.208 ), Nursery stock – fruit, nut, flower (51.102), Orchard replant (393.720), Ornamentals (138.538), Peppers – field (756.339), Strawberry – field (1,349.575), Strawberry runners (8.838), Tomatoes – field (1,406.484), Sweet potato slips (18.144)

* All or part of the supplementary amount of 1.8 metric tonnes, if required, is conditional on the Technical and Economic Assessment Panel’s recommendation in its 2007 progress report.

Table D: 2008 permitted levels of production and consumption (metric tonnes)

Australia 46.650 + 1.8*
Canada 36.112
Japan 443.775
United States of America 4,595.040

* All or part of the supplementary amount of 1.8 metric tonnes, if required, is conditional on the Technical and Economic Assessment Panel’s recommendation in its 2007 progress report.