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 XXXVI/2: Life-cycle refrigerant management

The Thirty-Sixth Meeting of the Parties,

Taking note with great appreciation of the 2024 report of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel prepared in response to decision XXXV/11, [1]

Taking into consideration the discussions and presentations at the workshop on life‑cycle refrigerant management held on 27 October 2024,

Cognizant of the ongoing work by parties following decision 91/66 of the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol establishing a funding window to support the preparation of national inventories of banks of used or unwanted controlled substances and a plan for the collection, transport and disposal of such substances, including consideration of recycling, reclamation and cost-effective destruction,

Decides:

  1. To request the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel to include updated relevant information on life-cycle refrigerant management in its 2025 and subsequent progress reports, including the 2026 quadrennial assessment report, taking into account discussions at the Thirty-Sixth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer;
  2. To invite the Executive Committee and the secretariat of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol to continue to consider ways to enhance life-cycle refrigerant management in their work;
  3. To encourage parties to submit to the Ozone Secretariat information, where available, related to life-cycle refrigerant management activities, such as on financial and technological resources, capacity-building resources, costs related to life-cycle refrigerant management activities, initiatives taken, relevant regulations, if any, and challenges encountered by parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol and parties not so operating, by 31 May 2025;
  4. To request the Ozone Secretariat to compile information on life-cycle refrigerant management, including information on existing programmes that support life-cycle refrigerant management efforts and any information submitted pursuant to paragraph 3 above, and to post it on its website;
  5. To encourage parties to consider incorporating life-cycle refrigerant management in their national policies and planning relating to implementation of the Montreal Protocol;
  6. To also encourage parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 to:
    1. Take into account the lessons learned from the 2024 report of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel regarding life-cycle refrigerant management and from the life-cycle refrigerant management workshop organized by the Ozone Secretariat, on 27 October 2024, when preparing and implementing their Kigali implementation plans and, if applicable, when preparing their national inventories and plans pursuant to decision 91/66 of the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol;
    2. Use their regional networks of national ozone officers to further build capacity, share knowledge and other resources and advance cooperative approaches to enhancing life‑cycle refrigerant management.

[1] United Nations Environment Programme, Report of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel: Decision XXXV/11 Task Force Report on Life-cycle Refrigerant Management, May 2024 (Nairobi, 2024).