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.

Annex I: Rome Declaration on the Contribution of the Montreal Protocol to Food Loss Reduction through Sustainable Cold Chain Development

*We, the ministers and heads of delegation of the following parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Brazil1, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, European Union, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia (Republic of the), Germany, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Italy, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania1, Luxembourg, Maldives, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montenegro, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Senegal, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Uganda, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam,

Considering the discussions at the round table opening the high-level segment of the Thirty‑First Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, which has a prominent role in reducing food losses,

Recalling that about one-third of all food produced globally for human consumption is either lost or wasted, which has severe impacts on farmers’ incomes and precious resources such as land, water and energy and generates greenhouse gases,

Reaffirming the cooperation among parties in implementing the Montreal Protocol and recognizingthat the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment have raised awareness of the need to develop sustainable and efficient solutions in the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector to meet future cooling demand, including cold-chain initiatives for food preservation,

Aware of the key role of the cold chain in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals related to, inter alia, ending hunger and poverty, food security, improved nutrition, climate action, sustainable agriculture and fisheries, health and well-being,

  1. Stress the importance of pursuing national action and international cooperation to promote the development of the cold chain, including by using sustainable and environmentally friendly refrigeration to reduce food loss;
  2. Underscore the multiple benefits of promoting the exchange of information on the contribution of the cold chain to the Sustainable Development Goals and encouragethe ongoing work under the Montreal Protocol to this end;
  3. Call for strengthening cooperation and coordination between Governments, the institutions of the Montreal Protocol, the specialized agencies of the United Nations, existing private and public initiatives and all relevant stakeholders to exchange knowledge and promote innovation of energy-efficient solutions and technologies that reduce the use of substances controlled by the Montreal Protocol in the development of the cold chain, thereby contributing to the reduction of food loss and waste.

Rome, 8 November 2019


* The Rome Declaration is presented as received, without formal editing.
1 Endorsed the Declaration after the meeting had ended.