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 XXV/5: Response to the report by the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel on information on alternatives to ozone‑depleting substances (decision XXIV/7, paragraph 1)

Noting with appreciation volume 2 of the 2012 task force progress report, which responded to decision XXIII/9, and volume 2 of the 2013 progress report of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel, which responded to decision XXIV/7,

Noting the release of the contribution of Working Group I to the fifth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, entitled “Climate change 2013: the physical science basis”,

  1. To request the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel, in consultation with external experts if necessary, to prepare a report for consideration by the Open-ended Working Group at its thirty-fourth meeting and an updated report to be submitted to the Twenty-Sixth Meeting of the Parties that would:
    1. Provide an update on information on alternatives to ozone-depleting substances in various sectors and subsectors, and differentiating between parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 and parties not so operating, considering regional differences, and assessing whether such alternatives are:
      1. Commercially available;
      2. Technically proven;
      3. Environmentally sound;
      4. Energy efficient;
      5. Economically viable and cost-effective;
      6. Suitable for regions with high ambient temperatures, in particular considering the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector and their use in high-urban-density cities;
      7. Suitable for safe uses, in particular considering their potential flammability or toxicity, and their suitability for use in densely populated urban areas, and describing potential limitations of their use;
      8. Easily used;
    2. Estimate current and future demand for alternatives to ozone-depleting substances, taking into account increased demand, in particular in the refrigeration and air-conditioning sectors and in parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5;
    3. Assess, differentiating between parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 and those not so operating, the economic costs and implications, and environmental benefits of various scenarios of avoiding high-global-warming-potential alternatives to ozone-depleting substances, where such avoidance is possible, considering the list in subparagraph (a) of the present decision;
    4. Request the Scientific Assessment Panel, in liaison with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to provide information from the contribution of Working Group 1 to the fifth assessment report on the main climate metrics, considering the updated information provided in paragraph 1 (a) of the present decision;
  2. To convene a workshop, back to back with the thirty-fourth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group, to continue discussions on hydrofluorocarbon management, taking into account the information requested in the present decision and previous reports provided in response to decisions XXIII/9 and XXIV/7;
  3. To encourage parties to provide to the Secretariat, on a voluntary basis, information on their implementation of paragraph 9 of decision XIX/6, including information on available data, policies and initiatives pertaining to the promotion of a transition from ozone-depleting substances that minimize environmental impact wherever the required technologies are available, and to request the Secretariat to compile any submissions received for consideration by the Open-ended Working Group at its thirty-fourth meeting;
  4. To request the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund to consider the information provided in the report on additional information on alternatives to ozone-depleting substances prepared by the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel pursuant to decision XXIV/7 and other related reports, with a view to considering whether additional demonstration projects to validate whether low-global‑warming‑potential alternatives and technologies, together with additional activities to maximize the climate benefits in the hydrochlorofluorocarbon production sector, would be useful in assisting parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 in further minimizing the environmental impact of the hydrochlorofluorocarbon phase-out;