The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer

When did we realize ozone depletion was an issue, and how did we fix it? By 1985, the globe had already seen advancements in the scientific understanding of ozone depletion and its impacts on human health and the environment. It was then that the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was created in response. This agreement is a framework convention that lays out principles agreed upon by many parties. It does not, however, require countries to take control actions to protect the ozone layer. This would come later in the form of the Montreal Protocol.

The Vienna Convention was the first convention of any kind to be signed by every country involved, taking effect in 1988 and reaching universal ratification in 2009. This speaks to the enormity of ozone depletion at the time and the willingness of countries around the world to work together to solve it. The Convention aimed to promote cooperation among nations by exchanging information on the effects of human activities on the ozone layer. In doing so, the creators of the Convention hoped policymakers would adopt measures to combat those activities responsible for ozone depletion.

Today, the Vienna Convention is still making progress.The countries involved meet once every three years to make decisions on important issues including on Research and Systematic observations as well as financial and administrative matters.

Decision VC II/1: Amendments to the rules of procedure

The Conference of the Parties, in Decision VC II/1 of its Second Meeting, decided:

  1. To amend paragraph 2 of rule 6 as follows:

    Delete the words "in matters of direct concern to the organizations and states they represent" in the third and fourth lines of the paragraph. The paragraph would now read: "Such observers may, upon invitation of the President and if there is no objection from the Parties present, participate without the right to vote in the proceedings of any meeting.";

  2. To amend paragraph 1 of rule 21 of the Rules of Procedure to include the following additional sentences:

    "In electing its officers, the meeting of the Conference of the Parties shall have due regard to the principle of equitable geographical distribution. The offices of the President and Rapporteur of the meeting of the Parties shall normally be subject to rotation among the five groups of States referred to in section I of General Assembly resolution 2997 (XXVII) of 16 December 1972, by which UNEP was established.";

  3. To amend rules 23 and 24 as follows:
    1. Rule 23 - delete paragraph 2;
    2. Rule 24 - delete the words "other than the President" and replace by the words "of the Bureau".