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/2: Information exchange under Annex II to the Vienna Convention

The Conference of the Parties, in Decision VC II/2 of its Second Meeting, decided:

  1. To note that exchange of information under Annex II would in large part be fulfilled by Parties reporting the data required by Article 7 of the amended Montreal Protocol, and by exchanging information and reporting on activities as required by Article 9 of the Protocol; and therefore to call on all Parties to the Convention, whether or not Parties to the amended Protocol, to provide such data and information;
  2. To request the Montreal Protocol Parties to ask the Assessment Panels to identify and report on what information on substances listed in Annex I of the Convention, can be made available from other sources, and what can and should be supplied separately by the Parties; and to ask the Secretariat, in light of this information, to develop with the chairs of the Assessment Panels an appropriate provisional reporting format;
  3. To note the recommendation of the meeting of the Ozone Research Managers that the HFCs should be added to the list of substances in Annex I of the Vienna Convention;
  4. To note that some countries had already submitted information for exchange in accordance with the objectives of Annex II of the Convention, and to invite all Parties to submit any information relevant to the objectives of this Annex.