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 VII: Draft decision XXIII/[ ]: Funding for hydrochlorofluorocarbon production facilities

Submission by India

The Twenty-Third Meeting of the parties decides:

Recalling decision XIX/6, which states that funding through the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol shall be stable and sufficient to meet all agreed incremental costs to enable parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol to comply with the accelerated phase-out schedule for hydrochlorofluorocarbons for both the production and consumption sectors,

Recognizing that there is limited time before the first hydrochlorofluorocarbon control measures for parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 come into force with the freeze at the baseline level in 2013 and 10 per cent reduction from the baseline in 2015,

Noting that parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 with hydrochlorofluorocarbon production facilities may be at risk of being in non-compliance with those obligations if adequate assistance is not provided through the Multilateral Fund,

To confirm the intent of decision XIX/6, which is to provide stable and sufficient funding through the Multilateral Fund to meet all agreed incremental costs to enable parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 to comply with the accelerated hydrochlorofluorocarbonphase-out schedule, including the production sector without any prejudice to swing plants;

To urge the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund to finalize as a priority matter the guidelines for the funding of hydrochlorofluorocarbon production facilities.