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 III/1: Adjustments and Amendments to the Montreal Protocol

The Conference of the Parties, in Decision VC III/1 of its Third Meeting, decided:

  1. To note the adjustments and Amendment to the Montreal Protocol that were adopted by the Fourth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, held in Copenhagen in November 1992; to urge the Parties to the Protocol to expedite their ratification of the Amendment; to urge all the Parties to the Vienna Convention to ratify the Montreal Protocol; and, to urge all the countries that have not ratified the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol and its Amendments to do so expeditiously;
  2. To provide immediate support and assistance to newly sovereign States that were previously part of unions, federations or other States and all other non-Parties in becoming Parties to the Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol.