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.

Decision XVIII/17: Treatment of stockpiled ozone-depleting substances relative to compliance

  1. To note that the Secretariat has reported that Parties which had exceeded the allowed level of production or consumption of a particular ozone-depleting substances in a given year have in some cases explained that their excess production or consumption represented one of the four following scenarios:
    1. Ozone-depleting substance production in that year which had been stockpiled for domestic destruction or export for destruction in a future year;
    2. Ozone-depleting substance production in that year which had been stockpiled for domestic feedstock use or export for that use in a future year;
    3. Ozone-depleting substance production in that year which had been stockpiled for export to meet basic domestic needs of developing countries in a future year;
    4. Ozone-depleting substances imported in that year which had been stockpiled for domestic feedstock use in a future year;
  2. To recall that the Implementation Committee under the Non-compliance Procedure of the Montreal Protocol had concluded that scenario (d) was, in any event, in conformity with the provisions of the Montreal Protocol and decisions of the Meetings of the Parties;
  3. To request the Secretariat to maintain a consolidated record of the cases in which the Parties have explained that their situations are the consequence of scenarios (a), (b) or (c), and incorporate that record in the documentation of the Implementation Committee, for information purposes only, as well as in the Secretariat’s report on data submitted by the Parties in accordance with Article 7 of the Protocol;
  4. To recognize that new scenarios not covered by paragraph 1 will be addressed by the Implementation Committee in accordance with the non-compliance procedure of the Protocol and the established practice thereunder;
  5. To agree to revisit this issue at the Twenty-first Meeting of the Parties, in the light of the information gathered in accordance with paragraph 3 of the present decision, with a view to considering the need for further action.