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.

Declaration on limitations on the consumption of methyl bromide (2004)

Source(s)
Annex IV: Declaration on limitations on the consumption of methyl bromide - First Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties

by Austria, Belgium, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kiribati, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Mozambique, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Saint Lucia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom and the European Community

The above Parties present at the first Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties.

Recognizing that technically and economically feasible alternatives exist for most uses of methyl bromide, and noting that Parties have made substantial progress in the adoption of effective alternatives,

Mindful that exemptions must comply fully with decision IX/6 and are intended to be limited, temporary derogations from the phase-out of methyl bromide,

Resolved that each Party’s methyl bromide use should decrease, targeting the closure of the critical-use exemption as soon as possible in non-Article 5 Parties,

Declare their firm intention at the national level to take all appropriate measures to strive for significantly and progressively decreasing production and consumption of methyl bromide for critical uses with the intention of completely phasing out methyl bromide whenever technically and economically feasible alternatives are available.

Montreal, 26 March 2004