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/10: Budgets and financial matters

The Conference of the Parties, in Decision VC II/10 of its Second Meeting, decided:

  1. To request the Secretariat to submit as soon as possible to all Parties certified and audited accounts of the Vienna Convention Trust Fund for the expenditures under the Fund for the 1990 financial year;
  2. To request the Secretariat to submit to the Parties the certified and audited accounts for 1989 of the Interim Ozone Secretariat;
  3. To submit certified and audited accounts for subsequent years prior to regular meeting of the Parties;
  4. To emphasize that expenditures incurred due to recommendations by the Bureau should only be met either within the budget adopted by the Parties for that year or by other additional contributions made towards these expenditures;
  5. To emphasize that it is essential to avoid increases in already adopted budgets in the years to which they relate;
  6. To extend the Trust Fund for the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer from 31 March 1993 to 31 March 1995;
  7. To urge all Parties to pay their outstanding 1990 and 1991 contributions promptly and to also pay their future contributions promptly and in full in accordance with the terms of reference and the formula for contributions as attached to this report as Annex II;
  8. To note that the revised 1991 budget has been increased to 13,690, which corresponds to the funds available to the Secretariat from paid and pledged contributions of 1990 and 1991, less the expenditures incurred in 1990;
  9. To adopt the final budget for 1992 of 51,430 and for 1993 of 77,445, as set out in Annex I.
Annex I: Trust Fund for the Vienna Convention: revised 1991 and proposed 1992 and 1993 budgets for the Secretariat
Annex II: Trust Fund for the Vienna Convention: pledged contributions by Parties for 1992 and 1993
Annex III: Trust Fund for the Vienna Convention: status of contributions by Parties in 1990 and 1991
Annex IV: Trust Fund for the Vienna Convention: 1990 expenditures