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 XXXIV/13: Collecting data to understand potential impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on hydrofluorocarbon consumption for Group 1 parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5

Recalling that the calculated hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) consumption baselines for Group 1 parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol are determined on the basis of reported HFC consumption for 2020, 2021 and 2022 plus 65 per cent of the country’s hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) baselines to account for HFC growth and fluctuations,

Noting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic,

Noting that the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol has taken no decision concerning the years for the starting point that will be used to determine maximum HFC consumption eligible for funding, and that this issue will continue to be considered at the ninety-first meeting of the Executive Committee,

  1. To encourage parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 that believe that their reduced consumption of HFCs during the baseline years of 2020–2022, stemming from the effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, could hinder their ability to comply with the freeze in the consumption of HFCs in 2024 under the Kigali Amendment, to submit to the Ozone Secretariat as soon as possible, and no later than 1 May 2023, their HFC consumption data for 2022, in time for consideration at the forty-fifth meeting of the Open‑ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol;
  2. For parties that provide to the Ozone Secretariat by 1 May 2023 their HFC consumption data for 2022, in accordance with paragraph 1 of the present decision, to request the Ozone Secretariat to prepare for consideration at the forty-fifth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group:
    1. Information on the HFC consumption for the years 2020, 2021, and 2022 and the calculated baselines of Group 1 parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 that have reported relevant data;
    2. Information on HFC consumption for the years 2018 and 2019 of Group 1 parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 where information is available;
  3. To request the Executive Committee, at its ninety-first meeting, to consider requesting the secretariat of the Multilateral Fund to provide to the Ozone Secretariat any HFC consumption data it has available that could assist the Ozone Secretariat in preparing the information requested under paragraph 2 of the present decision.