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 IV/25: Essential uses

The Fourth Meeting of the Parties decided in Dec. IV/25:

  1. to apply the following criteria and procedure in assessing an essential use for the purposes of control measures in Article 2 of the Protocol:
    1. that a use of a controlled substance should qualify as “essential” only if:
      1. it is necessary for the health, safety or is critical for the functioning of society (encompassing cultural and intellectual aspects); and
      2. there are no available technically and economically feasible alternatives or substitutes that are acceptable from the standpoint of environment and health;
    2. that production and consumption, if any, of a controlled substance for essential uses should be permitted only if:
      1. all economically feasible steps have been taken to minimize the essential use and any associated emission of the controlled substance; and
      2. the controlled substance is not available in sufficient quantity and quality from existing stocks of banked or recycled controlled substances, also bearing in mind the developing countries’ need for controlled substances;
    3. that production, if any, for essential use, will be in addition to production to supply the basic domestic needs of the Parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Protocol prior to the phase-out of the controlled substances in those countries;
  2. to request each of the Parties to nominate, in accordance with the criteria approved in paragraph 1 (a) of the present decision, any use it considers “essential”, to the Secretariat at least six months for halons and nine months for other substances prior to each Meeting of the Parties that is to decide on this issue;
  3. to request the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel and its Technical and Economic Options Committee to develop, in accordance with the criteria in paragraphs 1 (a) and 1 (b) of the present decision, recommendations on the nominations, after consultations with experts as necessary, regarding:
    1. the essential use (substance, quantity, quality, expected duration of essential use, duration of production or import necessary to meet such essential use);
    2. economically feasible use and emission controls for the proposed essential use;
    3. sources of already produced controlled substances for the proposed essential use (quantity, quality, timing); and
    4. steps necessary to ensure that alternatives and substitutes are available as soon as possible for the proposed essential use;
  4. to request the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel, while making its recommendations to take into account the environmental acceptability, health effects, economic feasibility, availability, and regulatory status of alternatives and substitutes;
  5. to request the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel to submit its report, through the Secretariat, at least three months before the Meeting of the Parties in which a decision is to be taken. The subsequent reports will also consider which previously qualified essential uses should no longer qualify as essential;
  6. to request the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to consider the report of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel and make its recommendations to the Fifth Meeting of the Parties for halons and at the Sixth Meeting for all other substances for which an essential use is proposed;
  7. that essential use controls will not be applicable to Parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Protocol until the phase-out dates applicable to those Parties.