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 VII/3: Financial matters: financial reports and budgets

The Conference of the Parties, in Decision VII/3 of its Seventh Meeting, decided:

  1. To welcome the continuing excellent management by the Secretariat of the finances of the Vienna Convention Trust Fund and the very good quality documentation furnished to the meeting;
  2. To take note with appreciation of the financial statement of the Trust Fund for the biennium 2004-2005 ended 31 December 2004 and the report on the actual expenditures for 2004 as compared to the approvals for that year, as contained in document UNEP/OzL.Conv.7/4;
  3. To approve the budget for the Trust Fund in the amount of 97,672 for 2006, 89,691 for 2007, and ,162,601 for 2008 as set out in annex I of the report of the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Seventeenth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer;3
  4. To draw down an amount of 86,672 and 59,601 in years 2006 and 2008 from the Fund balance for the purpose of reducing that balance;
  5. To ensure, as a consequence of the draw-downs referred to in paragraph 4, that the contributions to be paid by the Parties amount to 11,000 for 2006, 89,691 for 2007 and 03,000 for 2008 as set out in annex I of the report of the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Seventeenth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.2 The contributions of the individual Parties shall be as listed in annex II to that report;
  6. To allow the Secretariat to make transfers up to 20 per cent from one main appropriation line of the approved budget to other main appropriation lines;
  7. To urge all Parties to pay their outstanding contributions as well as their future contributions promptly and in full.
Annex I: Trust fund for the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer: revised approved 2005 and approved
Annex II: Trust fund for the Vienna Convention: scale of contributions for 2006, 2007 and 2008