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.

Seventeenth Meeting of the Parties

Decision XVII/1: Status of ratification of the Vienna Convention, the Montreal Protocol and the London, Copenhagen, Montreal and Beijing amendments to the Montreal Protocol
Decision XVII/2: Request by Cyprus to be removed from the list of developing countries under the Montreal Protocol
Decision XVII/3: Application to Belgium, Poland and Portugal of paragraph 8 of Article 4 of the Montreal Protocol with respect to the Beijing Amendment to the Montreal Protocol
Decision XVII/4: Application to Tajikistan of paragraph 8 of Article 4 of the Montreal Protocol with respect to the Beijing Amendment to the Montreal Protocol
Decision XVII/5: Essential-use nominations for Parties not operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 for controlled substances for 2006 and 2007
Decision XVII/6: Process agents
Decision XVII/7: List of uses of controlled substances as process agents
Decision XVII/8: List of uses of controlled substances as process agents
Decision XVII/9: Critical-use exemptions for methyl bromide for 2006 and 2007
Decision XVII/10: Laboratory and analytical critical uses of methyl bromide
Decision XVII/11: Recapturing/recycling and destruction of methyl bromide from space fumigation
Decision XVII/12: Minimizing production of chlorofluorocarbons by Parties not operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol to meet the basic domestic needs of Parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5
Decision XVII/13: Use of carbon tetrachloride for laboratory and analytical uses in Parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol
Decision XVII/14: Difficulties faced by some Parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol with respect to chlorofluorocarbons used in the manufacture of metered-dose inhalers
Decision XVII/15: Coordination between the Ozone Secretariat and the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention
Decision XVII/16: Preventing illegal trade in controlled ozone-depleting substances
Decision XVII/17: Technical and financial implications of the environmentally sound destruction of concentrated and diluted sources of ozone-depleting substances
Decision XVII/18: Request for assistance of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel for the meeting of experts on destruction
Decision XVII/19: Consideration of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessment report as it relates to actions to address ozone depletion
Decision XVII/20: Data and information provided by the Parties in accordance with Article 7 of the Montreal Protocol
Decision XVII/21: Non-compliance with data-reporting requirements under Articles 5 and 7 of the Montreal Protocol by Parties recently ratifying the Montreal Protocol
Decision XVII/22: Non-compliance with data-reporting requirements for the purpose of establishing baselines under Article 5, paragraphs 3 and 8 ter (d)
Decision XVII/23: Report on the establishment of licensing systems under Article 4B of the Montreal Protocol
Decision XVII/24: Reports of the Parties submitted under Article 9 of the Montreal Protocol on research, development, public awareness and exchange of information
Decision XVII/25: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by Armenia and request for a plan of action
Decision XVII/26: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by Azerbaijan
Decision XVII/27: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by Bangladesh
Decision XVII/28: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by Bosnia and Herzegovina
Decision XVII/29: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by Chile
Decision XVII/30: Potential non-compliance in 2004 with consumption of the controlled substances in Annex B group I (other fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons) by China, and request for a plan of action
Decision XVII/31: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by Ecuador
Decision XVII/32: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by Federated States of Micronesia
Decision XVII/33: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by Fiji
Decision XVII/34: Revised plan of action to return Honduras to compliance with the control measures in Article 2H of the Montreal Protocol
Decision XVII/35: Potential non-compliance in 2004 with the controlled substances in Annex A, group I (CFCs) by Kazakhstan, and request for a plan of action
Decision XVII/36: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by Kyrgyzstan
Decision XVII/37: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Decision XVII/38: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by Sierra Leone, and request for a plan of action
Decision XVII/39: Revised plan of action for the early phase-out of methyl bromide in Uruguay
Decision XVII/40: The 2006-2008 replenishment of the Multilateral Fund
Decision XVII/41: Fixed-exchange-rate mechanism for the replenishment of the Multilateral Fund
Decision XVII/42: Financial matters: Financial reports and budgets
Decision XVII/43: Membership of the Implementation Committee
Decision XVII/44: Membership of the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund
Decision XVII/45: Endorsement of new co-chairs of the technical options committees of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel
Decision XVII/46: Co-Chairs of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
Decision XVII/47: Dates of future Montreal Protocol meetings
Decision XVII/48: Eighteenth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
Annex I: Trust fund for the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer: revised approved 2005 and approved
Annex II: Trust fund for the Vienna Convention: scale of contributions for 2006, 2007 and 2008
Annex III: Contributions by Parties to the sixth replenishment of the Multilateral Fund (2006, 2007 and 2008)
Annex IV: Trust Fund for the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer: revised approved 2005 and approved 2006 and 2007 budgets
Annex V: Trust Fund for the Montreal Protocol: scale of contributions for 2006 and 2007