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/14: Data and information provided by the parties in accordance with Article 7 of the Montreal Protocol

  1. To note that 194 parties of the 198 parties that should have reported data for 2021 have done so, and that 175 of those parties had reported their data by 30 September 2022 as required under paragraph 3 of Article 7 of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer;
  2. To note with appreciation that 117 of those parties had reported their data by 30 June 2022, in accordance with the encouragement in decision XV/15, and that reporting by 30 June each year greatly facilitates the work of the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol in assisting parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Protocol to comply with the Protocol’s control measures;
  3. To note with concern that four parties, namely Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Israel and the Russian Federation, have not reported their 2021 data as required under paragraph 3 of Article 7 of the Montreal Protocol, and that this places them in non-compliance with their data reporting obligations under the Montreal Protocol until such time as the Secretariat receives their outstanding data;
  4. To also note with concern that one party not operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5, namely San Marino, that is a party to the Kigali Amendment and should have submitted baseline data for Annex F substances (HFCs) for the years 2011 to 2013, has not done so as required under paragraph 2 of Article 7 of the Montreal Protocol, and that this places it in non-compliance with its data reporting obligations under the Montreal Protocol until such time as the Secretariat receives its outstanding baseline data for HFCs;
  5. To note that a lack of timely data reporting by parties impedes the effective monitoring and assessment of parties’ compliance with their obligations under the Montreal Protocol;
  6. To urge the parties listed in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the present decision to report the required data to the Secretariat as soon as possible;
  7. To request the Implementation Committee under the Non-Compliance Procedure for the Montreal Protocol to review the situation of those parties at its seventieth meeting;
  8. To encourage parties to continue to report consumption and production data as soon as the figures are available, and preferably by 30 June each year, as agreed in decision XV/15.