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

  1. To note that 197 parties of the 198 parties that should have reported data for 2020 have done so, and that 181 of those parties had reported their data by 30 September 2021 as required under paragraph 3 of Article 7 of the Montreal Protocol;
  2. To note with appreciation that 115 of those parties had reported their data by 30 June 2021, 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 one party, namely Cuba, has not reported its 2020 data as required under paragraph 3 of Article 7 of the Montreal Protocol, and that this places it in non-compliance with its data reporting obligations under the Protocol until such time as the Secretariat receives its outstanding data;
  4. To also note with concern that two parties not operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol, namely the Russian Federation and San Marino, that are parties to the Kigali Amendment and should have submitted baseline data for Annex F substances (hydrofluorocarbons) for the years 2011 to 2013 have not done so as required under paragraph 2 of Article 7 of the Montreal Protocol, and that this places them in non-compliance with their data reporting obligations under the Protocol until such time as the Secretariat receives their outstanding baseline data for hydrofluorocarbons;
  5. To further note with concern that one party operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Protocol, namely Cuba, which is party to the Kigali Amendment and should have submitted baseline data for Annex F substances (hydrofluorocarbons) for the year 2020 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 Protocol until such time as the Secretariat receives its outstanding baseline data for 2020 for hydrofluorocarbons;
  6. 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;
  7. To urge the parties listed in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of the present decision to report the required data to the Secretariat as soon as possible;
  8. To request the Implementation Committee to review the situation of those parties at its sixty-eighth meeting;
  9. 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.