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 XVII/18: Request for assistance of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel for the meeting of experts on destruction

The Seventeenth Meeting of the Parties decided in Dec. XVII/18:

Noting decision 47/52 of the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol adopted at its forty-seventh meeting, requesting the secretariat of the Multilateral Fund to convene a meeting of experts in Montreal, from 22 to 24 February 2006,

Recalling that the Multilateral Fund secretariat was requested to recruit consultants to collect and prepare data on this subject for dissemination to participants in the meeting of experts and to develop a standard format for reporting data on unwanted, recoverable, reclaimable, non-reusable and virgin stockpiled ozone-depleting substances,

To request the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel and its technical options committees to submit to the Multilateral Fund secretariat available data to enable the Multilateral Fund secretariat to assess the extent of current and future requirements for the collection and disposition (emissions, export, reclamation and destruction) of non-reusable and unwanted ozone-depleting substances in Article 5 Parties in pursuance of decision 47/52.