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 XVI/34: Cooperation between the secretariat of the Montreal Protocol and other related conventions and international organizations

The Sixteenth Meeting of the Parties decided in Dec. XVI/34:

Noting that the United Nations Environment Programme has encouraged an informal institutional dialogue over several years, between convention secretariats, and that the Governing Council, at its last general session, in February 2003, encouraged the United Nations Environment Programme to develop synergies and improve cooperation between its existing institutions,

Noting also that informal dialogue has been taking place more recently between multilateral environmental agreements, including between the secretariats of the Montreal Protocol to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the strategic approach to international chemicals management, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and the World Customs Organization to enhance synergies in particular in relation to the environment, health and trade,

Mindful of the need to strengthen cooperation between the Montreal Protocol and the other convention secretariats and international organizations within their respective mandates,

  1. Welcomes the enhanced cooperation between the Secretariat of the Montreal Protocol and the other convention secretariats and international organizations;
  2. Requests the Secretariat:
    1. To seek opportunities to enhance its cooperation with other relevant conventions or organizations that pertain to issues related to the Montreal Protocol either, resources permitting, by attending meetings or through the exchange of factual information, including schedules of meetings;
    2. To report to the Meeting of the Parties of the Montreal Protocol on any meetings of other conventions or organizations that it attends, any substantive contacts that it has with the relevant secretariats, and any information provided to or requested by these secretariats, mindful at all times that the Secretariat of the Montreal Protocol cannot provide any legal interpretation of the provisions of the Protocol;
    3. To monitor developments in other related conventions and organizations of interest to the Parties to the Montreal Protocol and to report on such developments to the Meeting of the Parties of the Montreal Protocol;
    4. To reflect on ways of enhancing information flows on matters of common interest with the other related conventions and organizations of interest to the Parties to the Montreal Protocol;
  3. Encourages Governments to apprise their representatives that participate in the meetings of other related conventions and international organizations on the nature of the present decision.