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.

Sixteenth Meeting of the Parties

Decision XVI/1: Ratification of the Vienna Convention, the Montreal Protocol and the London, Copenhagen, Montreal and Beijing amendments to the Protocol l
Decision XVI/2: Critical use exemptions for methyl bromide for 2005 and 2006
Decision XVI/3: Duration of critical-use nominations of methyl bromide
Decision XVI/4: Review of the working procedures and terms of reference of the Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee
Decision XVI/5: Provision of financial assistance to the Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee
Decision XVI/6: Accounting framework
Decision XVI/7: Trade in products and commodities treated with methyl bromide
Decision XVI/8: Request for technical and financial support relating to methyl bromide alternatives
Decision XVI/9: Flexibility in the use of alternatives for the phasing out of methyl bromide
Decision XVI/10: Reporting of information relating to quarantine and pre-shipment uses of methyl bromide
Decision XVI/11: Coordination among United Nations bodies on quarantine and pre-shipment uses
Decision XVI/12: Essential-use nominations for Parties not operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol for controlled substances for 2005 and 2006
Decision XVI/13: Assessment of the portion of the refrigeration service sector made up by chillers and identification of incentives and impediments to the transition to non-CFC equipment
Decision XVI/14: Sources of carbon tetrachloride emissions and opportunities for reductions
Decision XVI/15: Review of approved destruction technologies pursuant to decision XIV/6 of the Parties
Decision XVI/16: Laboratory and analytical uses
Decision XVI/17: Data and information provided by the Parties in accordance with Article 7 of the Montreal Protocol l
Decision XVI/18: Non-compliance with data-reporting requirements under Articles 5 and 7 of the Montreal Protocol by Parties recently ratifying the Montreal Protocol
Decision XVI/19: Potential non-compliance with consumption of Annex A, group II, ozone-depleting substances (halons) by Somalia in 2002 and 2003, and request for a plan of action
Decision XVI/20: Potential non-compliance in 2003 with consumption of the controlled substance in Annex B, group III (methyl chloroform) by Parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5, and requests for plans of action
Decision XVI/21: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by Azerbaijan
Decision XVI/22: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by Chile
Decision XVI/23: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by Fiji
Decision XVI/24: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by Guinea-Bissau
Decision XVI/25: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by Lesotho
Decision XVI/26: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Decision XVI/27: Compliance with the Montreal Protocol by Nepal
Decision XVI/28: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by Oman
Decision XVI/29: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by Pakistan
Decision XVI/30: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Decision XVI/31: Requests for changes in baseline data
Decision XVI/32: Report on the establishment of licensing systems under Article 4B of the Montreal Protocol
Decision XVI/33: Illegal trade in ozone-depleting substances
Decision XVI/34: Cooperation between the secretariat of the Montreal Protocol and other related conventions and international organizations
Decision XVI/35: Terms of reference for the study on the 2006-2008 replenishment of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol
Decision XVI/36: Evaluation and review of the financial mechanism of the Montreal Protocol (decision XV/47)
Decision XVI/37: Outstanding contributions to the Multilateral Fund
Decision XVI/38: Need to ensure equitable geographical representation in the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund
Decision XVI/39: Application of Turkmenistan for developing country status under the Montreal Protocol
Decision XVI/40: Request by Malta to be removed from the list of developing countries under the Montreal Protocol
Decision XVI/41: Co-Chairs of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
Decision XVI/42: Membership of the Implementation Committee
Decision XVI/43: Membership of the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund
Decision XVI/44: Financial matters: Financial reports and budgets
Decision XVI/45: Declaration of 2007 as "International Year of the Ozone Layer"
Decision XVI/46: Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties
Decision XVI/47: Seventeenth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
Annex I: Review of the working procedures and terms of reference of the Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee
Annex II: Reporting accounting framework for critical uses of methyl bromide
Annex III: Trust Fund for the Montreal Protocol: Revised approved 2004, approved 2005 and proposed 2006 budgets
Annex IV: Trust Fund for the Montreal Protocol: scale of 2005 and 2006 contributions
Annex V: Prague Declaration on enhancing cooperation among chemicals-related multilateral environmental agreements
Annex VI: Summary of the science symposium: challenges and perspectives - ozone layer protection