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.

Prague Declaration on enhancing cooperation among chemicals-related multilateral environmental agreements (2004)

Source(s)
Annex V: Prague Declaration on enhancing cooperation among chemicals-related multilateral environmental agreements - Sixteenth Meeting of the Parties

We, the ministers of the environment and heads of delegation of the following Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer attending the Sixteenth Meeting of the Parties of the Montreal Protocol in the city of Prague:

Algeria, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Estonia, European Community, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Viet Nam, Zambia

Recognizing the need to continue the momentum of unique and successful cooperation among the world communities in negotiating and implementing the Montreal Protocol,

Aware of the need to maintain the integrity of the Montreal Protocol to continue on the road to the recovery of the ozone layer and to its subsequent sustainable preservation,

Conscious of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the need successfully to implement the Montreal Protocol in order to attain sustainable development objective,

Cognizant of the findings of the Scientific Assessment Panel of the Montreal Protocol and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on interlinkages between ozone layer depletion and climate change,

Recognizing also that the mainstreaming of the environmental dimension into national strategies for sustainable development and poverty reduction remains an important challenge to all countries,

Aware of the efforts of the world community to develop a strategic approach to international chemicals management,

1. Reaffirm their commitment to continue their efforts to protect the global environment and the ozone layer, bearing in mind in particular the Rio Principles, including the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities;

2. Stress the need in particular, to implement the relevant elements of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development concerning the sound management of chemicals, including the prevention of international illegal trade in ozone-depleting substances, hazardous chemicals and hazardous wastes;

3. Emphasize the need for developing countries to implement multilateral environmental agreements and mainstream environmental considerations in their sustainable development and poverty reductions strategies to maximise the efficiency of the technical and financial support provided;

4. Reiterate the need to help provide support for the implementation of chemicals-related multilateral environmental agreements to developing countries and countries with economies in transition, for the Montreal Protocol including through an adequate replenishment of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol and the Global Environment Facility and enhanced cooperation between these funds;

5. Enhance the collaborative efforts towards technological development, in particular those related to the protection of the ozone layer and the mitigation of climate change, and transfer technology to the countries that need it;

6. Seek alliance with other multilateral instruments like the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions to contribute to an effective strategic approach to international chemicals management; and

7. Declare the willingness of the Parties assembled in this City of Bridges to contribute to building bridges between the relevant multilateral environmental agreements and to help them draw inspiration from the success of the Montreal Protocol while, in turn, drawing inspiration from them in meeting future challenges.

Prague, 26 November 2004