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.

Annex IV: Trust fund for the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer Approved 2011 and 2012 and proposed 2013 budgets (in United States dollars)

        w/m 2011 w/m 2012 w/m 2013
                   
10 Project personnel component            
  1100 Project personnel            
    1101 Executive Secretary (D-2) (shared with the Vienna Convention (VC)) 1 6 166 757 6 166 000 6 166 000
    1102 Deputy Executive Secretary (D-1) 12 259 560 12 272 538 12 275 367
    1103 Senior Legal Officer (P-5) 12 202 632 12 208 711 12 208 711
    1104 Senior Scientific Affairs Officer (P-5) (shared with VC) 6 130 000 6 130 000 6 130 000
    1105 Administrative Officer (P-5) (paid by UNEP)   0   0   0
    1106 Database Manager (Information System and Technology (P-4) 12 150 115 12 154 618 12 159 257
    1107 Programme Officer (Communication & Information (P-3) (paid from VC) 12 0 12 0 12 0
    1108 Programme Officer (Monitoring and Compliance (P-4) 12 188 000 12 193 640 12 199 449
  1199 Subtotal   1 097 064   1 125 507   1 138 784
                   
  1200 Consultants            
    1201 Assistance in data-reporting, analysis and promotion of the implementation of the Protocol   40 000   75 000   75 000
  1299 Subtotal   40 000   75 000   75 000
  1300 Administrative support            
    1301 Administrative Assistant (G-7) (shared with VC) 6 21 250 6 21 888 6 22 545
    1302 Administrative Assistant (G-6) 12 27 000 12 28 350 12 29 768
    1303 Programme Assistant (G-6) (paid from VC) 12 0 12 0 12 0
    1304 Programme Assistant (Data) (G-6) (shared with VC) 6 17 573 6 18 452 6 19 375
    1305 Information Assistant (Research) (G-6) (shared with VC) 6 16 295 6 16 295 6 16 295
    1306 Information Management Assistant/Documentation Clerk (G-6) 12 27 560 12 28 387 12 29 239
    1307 Data Assistant (Computer Information Systems Assistant) (G-7) 12 42 174 12 44 704 12 46 940
    1308 Administrative Assistant - Fund (G-7) (paid by UNEP) 12 0 12 0 12 0
    1309 Team Assistant/Logistics Assistant (G-4) (paid by UNEP) 12 0 12 0 12 0
    1310 Meetings Services Assistant/Bilingual Senior Secretary (G-6) (paid from VC) 12 0 12 0 12 0
    1320 Temporary assistance   21 300   21 300   21 300
    1321 Open-ended Working Group meetings   490 000   490 000   490 000
    1322 Preparatory and parties meetings (shared with VC every three years, applies to the Twenty-Third and Twenty-Sixth Meetings of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol and the ninth and tenth meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention in 2011 and 2014)   350 000   500 000   500 000
    1323 Assessment panel meetings   75 000   75 000   75 000
    1324 Bureau meeting   20 000   20 000   20 000
    1325 Implementation Committee meetings   111 200   111 200   111 200
    1326 MP informal consultation meetings   10 000   10 000   10 000
  1399 Subtotal   1 229 352   1 385 575   1 391 660
                   
  1600 Travel on official business            
    1601 Staff travel on official business   210 000   210 000   210 000
    1602 Conference Services staff travel on official business   15 000   15 000   15 000
  1699 Subtotal   225 000   225 000   225 000
1999 Component total   2 591 416   2 811 083   2 830 444
                   
20 Contracts              
  2300   Subcontracts 2            
    2301     70 000   57 134   0
                   
  2399   Subtotal   70 000   57 134   0
2999 Component total   70 000   57 134   0
30 Meeting/Participation component            
  3300 Support for participation            
    3301 Assessment panel meetings 3   500 000   450 000   450 000
    3302 Preparatory and parties meetings (Montreal Protocol bears the cost of the participation of MP and VC delegates from A-5 countries at the joint 23rd MOP and 9th COP in 2011)   350 000   350 000   350 000
    3303 Open-ended Working Group meetings   300 000   300 000   300 000
    3304 Bureau meeting   20 000   20 000   20 000
    3305 Implementation Committee meetings   125 000   125 000   125 000
    3306 Consultations in an informal meeting   10 000   10 000   10 000
  3399 Subtotal   1 305 000   1 255 000   1 255 000
3999 Component total   1 305 000   1 255 000   1 255 000
                   
40 Equipment and premises component            
  4100 Expendable equipment (items under $1 500)            
    4101 Miscellaneous expendables (shared with VC)   22 000   20 000   20 000
  4199 Subtotal   22 000   20 000   20 000
  4200 Non-expendable equipment            
    4201 Personal computers and accessories   20 000   5 000   5 000
    4202 Portable computers   5 000   5 000   5 000
    4203 Other office equipment (server, fax, scanner, furniture etc.)   20 000   5 000   5 000
    4204 Photocopiers   5 000   5 000   5 000
    4205 Equipment and peripherals for paperless conferences   0   10 000   5 000
  4299 Subtotal   50 000   30 000   25 000
  4300 Premises            
  4301 Rental of office premises (shared with VC)   48 000   49 440   50 882
  4399 Subtotal   48 000   49 440   50 882
4999 Component total   120 000   99 440   95 882
50 Miscellaneous component            
  5100 Operation and maintenance of equipment            
    5101 Maintenance of equipment and others (shared with VC)   25 000   20 000   20 000
  5199 Subtotal   25 000   20 000   20 000
  5200 Reporting costs            
    5201 Reporting   35 000   25 000   25 000
    5202 Reporting (assessment panels)   10 000   10 000   10 000
    5203 Reporting (Protocol awareness)   5 000   5 000   5 000
  5299 Subtotal   50 000   40 000   40 000
  5300 Sundry            
    5301 Communications   36 000   25 000   25 000
    5302 Freight charges   35 000   30 000   25 000
    5303 Training   12 000   12 000   12 000
    5304 Others (International Ozone Day)   10 000   10 000   10 000
  5399 Subtotal   93 000   77 000   72 000
  5400 Hospitality            
    5401 Hospitality   25 000   20 000   20 000
  5499 Subtotal   25 000   20 000   20 000
5999 Component total   193,000   157 000   152 000
99 Total direct project cost   4 279 416   4 379 657   4 333 326
  Programme support costs (13%)   556 324   569 355   563 332
  GRAND TOTAL (inclusive of programme support costs)   4 835 740   4 949 012   4 896 659
  Operating cash reserve exclusive of programme support costs5       0   0   0
  Total budget   4 835 740   4 949 012   4 896 659
               
  Drawdown6     558 807   672 079   619 726
  Contribution from the parties   4 276 933   4 276 933   4 276 933

1 By decision XXII/21, the parties requested the President of the Bureau of the Twenty-Second Meeting of the Parties to convey to the Secretary-General of the United Nations the Parties' request to find a way to extend the tenure of the current Executive Secretary of the Ozone Secretariat through 2015. At the thirty‑first meeting of the Open-ended Working Group, the President conveyed to the parties that he had received confirmation from the Chef-de-Cabinet of the Secretary‑General that the Executive Secretary's contract was being extended by two-years, until October 2013. There are no additional budget implications of this extension.

2 In accordance with decision XXII/2, and under the steering panel created by that decision, the Secretariat entered into a contract with ICF International for the preparation of an evaluation of the financial mechanism.

3 Budget line covers participation of all TEAP experts to enable the timely completion of the work requested by the Parties.

4 As paperless meetings have been successful since 2008, there has been both a decrease and shift in the resources needed for certain budget lines. The Secretariat introduced line 4205 as a new budget line to ensure transparency in reporting of related expenditures in this area.

5 The Secretariat is maintaining the operating cash reserve at 15 per cent of the annual budget in accordance with paragraph 5 of decision XXII/21. As the 15 per cent level has been reached, there is no need to allocate funds in this area from 2011 and beyond until such time as the parties decide to increase the level to meet the final expenditures under the Trust Fund.

6 Prior years' drawdown levels were set with a view to maintaining the level of contributions constant through 2011. A drawdown for 2012 and 2013 is designed to keep contributions stable.

 

Explanatory notes for the approved 2012 and 2013 budgets of the Trust Fund for the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

 

Budget line Comment
Personnel component

1101–1108

1105

 Indicative Professional salary costs applicable to the relevant duty stations have been used for the budget proposals. Where information on actual staff costs is available, however, the figures have been adjusted accordingly. Unspent commitments normally revert to the Trust Fund for the Montreal Protocol.

The post of Administrative Officer continues to be paid by UNEP from the 13 per cent programme support costs.
Consultants – 1201 Assistance in data reporting, updating of publications, translation of essential features of the Ozone Secretariat website and the maintenance of a fully interlinked digital system at the Secretariat will continue to be required. Funds under this line may be transferred to line 1100 to create or support short-term Professional posts if necessary.
Administrative support/personnel

1301- 1309

 Standard General Service salary costs applicable to the Nairobi duty station have been used for the 2012–2013 budget proposals.
1310

Administrative support/Conference services – 1321–1326

 The post of Bilingual Secretary is funded from the Vienna Convention Trust Fund.

Necessary funds may be transferred from the conference servicing budget lines (1321–1326) should such services be required, either through individual consultancies or corporate contracts.

The current conference servicing costs have been based on the following reasons and assumptions:

1321: The budget proposed is for one meeting of the Open-ended Working Group to be held each year in 2012 and 2013 in Nairobi or at another United Nations venue, in the six official United Nations languages;

1322: The Montreal Protocol budgets for 2011 and 2014 will be shared with the Vienna Convention budgets for the ninth and tenth meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention;

The budgeted amount is based on the estimated cost of holding the Meeting of the Parties in Nairobi in 2012 and 2013, in the six official United Nations languages. Any additional costs arising from holding the meetings in a location other than Nairobi will be borne by the Governments hosting the meetings;

1323: The budget allocation in 2012 and 2013 will cover the costs of organizing annual meetings of the assessment panels and the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel’s technical options committees, together with communication and other sundry costs related to the work of Panel members from developing countries and countries with economies in transition;
  1324: One Bureau meeting is scheduled for each of the years 2012 and 2013, with provision for interpretation and document translation into the appropriate languages based on the membership of the Bureau;

1325: At least two Implementation Committee meetings of three days’ duration are scheduled for each of the years 2012 and 2013, with interpretation and document translation as required, to be held back-to-back with the Open‑ended Working Group meetings and the meetings of the parties in those years;

1326: At least one informal consultation meeting per year, expected to take place in Nairobi, is envisaged for 2012 and 2013 to facilitate the work of assisting the parties and promoting ratification of and compliance with the Montreal Protocol and its amendments.
   
Travel on official business – 1601–1602 Travel on official business for 2012 and 2013 is being maintained at the 2011 level.
Meetings/Participation component – 3300

3301

 Participation of representatives of developing countries

The participation of representatives of parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 in the various Protocol meetings is budgeted at $5,000 per meeting per representative, taking into account no more than one person’s travel costs per country, using the most appropriate and advantageous economy-class fare and United Nations daily subsistence allowances.

The budget provision requested in 2012 for travel of members and experts of the assessment panels and the technical options committees attending assessment panel meetings has been reduced from the 2011 levels. Additional funds will be requested as required for the next assessment process.
3302

3303

 In 2011 and 2014, the total participation costs based on some 80 participants attending the joint meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention and the Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, will be borne fully by the Trust Fund for the Montreal Protocol.

Participation costs are based on some 60 participants attending the Open‑ended Working Group meetings in both 2012 and 2013.
3304 Participation costs are based on one Bureau meeting per year for four Bureau members from developing countries or countries with economies in transition at each meeting.
3305 The participation costs for the two Implementation Committee meetings per year are based on eight members from developing countries and countries with economies in transition at each meeting and one representative each from three or four countries invited by the Implementation Committee at each meeting. Provision has also been made for travel by the Implementation Committee President or Vice-President from a country operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 to attend three Executive Committee meetings a year.
3306 Funds have been allocated to finance the participation of two participants from developing countries and countries with economies in transition in informal consultations in 2012 and 2013 on critical issues relating to the Montreal Protocol. It is expected that these consultations will be held in Nairobi.
Equipment and premises component

Expendable equipment – 4101

The cost of miscellaneous expendables is being increased minimally in 2012 and 2013 to take into account inflation. Resource use is being monitored constantly to maintain low expenditure levels.
Non-expendable equipment – 4203 Additional funds for 2012 and 2013 have been allocated to provide for increased server capacity to cope with the demands of paperless meetings and to enable the Secretariat to replace equipment as required.
Premises (rent) – 4300 The allocation for rental of premises in 2012 and 2013 has been based on an increase in Nairobi rental rates imposed by the United Nations Controller.

Miscellaneous component

Operation and maintenance of equipment – 5101

The provision for operation and maintenance of equipment is being increased minimally in 2012 and 2013 to cover increased maintenance costs for constantly increasing server capacity and additional computing requirements for staff.
Reporting costs (including editing, translation, duplication, publication and printing) – 5201–5203 General reporting costs for the Secretariat are provided for under these lines. Line 5202 is reserved for reporting of assessment panels. A small amount is allocated in line 5203 for any editing, translation, duplication, publication and printing related to Protocol awareness campaigns.
Sundry –

Communications – 5301

 Careful monitoring of telecommunications resources and the use of electronic mail instead of facsimile communications enable the Secretariat to maintain a relatively low budget provision under this line.
Training – 5303 The provision for training will be maintained to meet evolving training needs and to cater for training schemes introduced by the United Nations as a result of its continuing human resources reform programme and guidelines for continuous training to encourage high performance delivery of staff.
Others (International Ozone Day) – 5304 The Ozone Secretariat will continue to provide assistance to specific countries during 2012 and 2013 to assist in their preparations for the celebration of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.