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 XIX/17: Use of carbon tetrachloride for laboratory and analytical uses in Parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol

Recognizing the difficulties faced by countries operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol in their search for viable alternatives to analytical methods that comply with international standards,

Considering that carbon tetrachloride plays an important role in analytical and laboratory processes and that there are currently no alternatives to it for some of those processes in Parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5,

Recalling that in decision XVII/13 the Parties agreed that the Implementation Committee and the Meeting of the Parties should defer until 2007 consideration of the compliance status in relation to the Montreal Protocol control measures for carbon tetrachloride of Parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5,

Recalling also that in decision XVII/13 the Parties agreed that the Nineteenth Meeting of the Parties would review the deferral referred to above in order to address the period2007–2009,

  1. That the Implementation Committee and the Meeting of the Parties should defer until 2010 consideration of the compliance status in relation to the control measures for carbon tetrachloride of Parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 which provide evidence to the Ozone Secretariat with their data reports, submitted in accordance with Article 7, showing that any deviation from the respective consumption target is due to the use of carbon tetrachloride for analytical and laboratory processes;
  2. To urge Parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 to minimize the consumption of carbon tetrachloride in laboratory and analytical uses by applying the global exemption criteria and procedures for laboratory and analytical uses of carbon tetrachloride currently established for Parties not operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5;