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 XXX/7: Future availability of halons and their alternatives

Noting with concern that, according to projections made by the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel in consultation with the International Civil Aviation Organization, there could be a lack of available halons for the civil aviation industry in the upcoming decades to service aircraft being manufactured today,

Recognizing that ships currently being decommissioned contain halons that can be recovered for potential reuse in civil aviation,

Recalling paragraph 3 of decision XXVI/7, which encourages parties to consider reassessing their situation with a view to removing barriers to the import and export of recovered, recycled or reclaimed halons,

  1. To request that the Ozone Secretariat liaise with the secretariat of the International Maritime Organization in order to facilitate the exchange of information between relevant technical experts regarding halon availability;
  2. To request that the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel, through its Halons Technical Options Committee:
    1. Continue engaging with the International Maritime Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization, consistent with paragraph 4 of decision XXVI/7 and paragraph 1 of decision XXIX/8, to better assess future amounts of halons available to support civil aviation and to identify relevant alternatives already available or in development;
    2. Identify ways to enhance the recovery of halons from the breaking of ships;
    3. Identify specific needs for halon, other sources of recoverable halon, and opportunities for recycling halon in parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Protocol and parties not so operating; and
    4. Submit a report on halon availability, based on the above-mentioned assessment and identification activities, to the parties in advance of the forty-second meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol;