Decision XIII/2: General Trust Fund for Financing Activities on Research and Systematic Observations Relevant to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer

The Conference of the Parties,

Recalling its decision VI/2, by which it established the General Trust Fund for Financing Activities on Research and Systematic Observations Relevant to the Vienna Convention,

Welcoming United Nations Environment Assembly decision 6/6 of 1 March 2024 on management of trust funds and earmarked contributions, in which the Environment Assembly extended the General Trust Fund to 31 December 2030 unless otherwise requested by the appropriate authorities, and noting that the extension of trust funds is an administrative matter that falls under the delegation of the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme and hence will, as of the seventh session of the Environment Assembly, no longer require a decision by Member States,

Noting with appreciation the contributions to the General Trust Fund by several parties and the joint efforts of the World Meteorological Organization and the Ozone Secretariat in the implementation of the activities funded from the General Trust Fund since it became operational in 2003, which enabled important activities, including calibrations, intercomparisons and relevant training, to be implemented,

Noting with great concern, however, that the resources available in the General Trust Fund are not sufficient to enable substantial and sustainable improvements to be made to the global ozone observation system,

Aware that improvements in ozone observations should take into account the existing strong and intricate linkages between ozone and climate, and aware of the need to carry out observations and analyses relevant for both ozone and climate wherever possible,

Noting with appreciation the work of the Advisory Committee of the General Trust Fund and its report to the thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention,[1] including with regard to the long-term strategy and short-term plan of action for the General Trust Fund prepared for consideration by the Conference of the Parties pursuant to decision X/3,

Taking note of the recommendations of the twelfth meeting of the Ozone Research Managers of the Parties to the Vienna Convention concerning gaps in the global coverage of atmospheric monitoring of controlled substances and options for enhancing such monitoring,[2] in which it was recognized that the General Trust Fund could be a viable mechanism for funding such measurement activities for the improvement of observational network and relevant research, if additional funds were available for such purposes,

Welcoming decision XXXVI/1 of the Thirty-Sixth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, on enhancing atmospheric regional monitoring of substances controlled by the Montreal Protocol,

Decides:

  1. To recognize that the purpose of the General Trust Fund for Financing Activities on Research and Systematic Observations Relevant to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer includes supporting activities related to the atmospheric monitoring of substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, a point also emphasized in the recommendations made by the Ozone Research Managers of the Parties to the Vienna Convention at their twelfth meeting;
  2. To encourage parties to make contributions to the General Trust Fund for the purpose of improving the global ozone observing system and for enhancing the global and regional monitoring of substances controlled by the Montreal Protocol, taking into consideration the report of the Advisory Committee of the General Trust Fund to the Conference of the Parties at its thirteenth meeting;
  3. To request the Ozone Secretariat to:
    1. Organize the work of the Advisory Committee in accordance with decision XXXVI/1 of the Thirty-Sixth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol and allow the Committee to invite additional experts in the monitoring of Montreal Protocol-controlled substances;
    2. Continue to invite parties and relevant international organizations, including space agencies, scientific and research institutions, United Nations entities, international financial institutions and the private sector, as appropriate, to make financial and/or in-kind contributions towards well-defined and well-budgeted project proposals developed under the General Trust Fund;
    3. Facilitate the receipt of additional funds for the monitoring of controlled substances;
    4. Ensure that the management of the additional funds referred to in paragraph 3 (c) above adheres to relevant established financial procedures and reporting requirements, noting the need for separate accounting and reporting for resources for the monitoring of controlled substances;
    5. Report to the Conference of the Parties at its fourteenth meeting on the operation of, contributions to and expenditures on the activities funded from the General Trust Fund since its inception, as well as on the activities of the Advisory Committee;
  4. To also request the Advisory Committee, with the assistance of the World Meteorological Organization and the Ozone Secretariat, to:
    1. Continue to implement its long-term strategy and short-term plan of action, ensuring that activities relevant to enhancing monitoring of substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol are taken into account;
    2. Support the work of the Ozone Secretariat to organize activities for the specific purpose of evaluating the suitability of potential sites for monitoring regional emissions of controlled substances, taking into consideration the following aspects:
      1. The suitability of potential sites, in consultation with the party concerned, for providing regionally representative data covering areas in which controlled substances are produced, used or emitted in substantial volumes at measurable concentration levels, while addressing existing gaps in atmospheric monitoring and avoiding duplication with the coverage of existing and planned monitoring sites;
      2. The potential for partnering with scientific institutions that can provide personnel for or technical expertise in the collection, management and analysis of data or other in-kind contributions;
      3. The potential cost savings and other benefits of relying on existing infrastructure and/or monitoring networks;
      4. The capacity to coordinate the calibration of equipment and validation of data with other controlled substance monitoring stations and networks;
      5. The sharing of data between monitoring stations and the potential to integrate new monitoring capability and newly obtained data into existing monitoring and data networks;
      6. The importance of consulting with the relevant party prior to undertaking exploratory measurements at potential monitoring locations;
    3. Identify gaps and needs in the research and monitoring of ozone, substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol and related climate variables and parameters, complementing the ongoing efforts of the Ozone Research Managers and other relevant programmes, such as the World Meteorological Organization Global Atmosphere Watch and Global Greenhouse Gas Watch programmes;
    4. Facilitate the relocation of unused Dobson and Brewer instruments and the use of ozonesondes to new observation programmes when such relocation is requested and in accordance with global and regional observation priorities, while exploring possibilities for transitioning to newer instruments;
    5. Foster stronger relationships with scientific institutions and related global networks to build capacity and increase the infusion of knowledge for the activities under its consideration;
    6. Continue to explore opportunities for leveraging and catalysing its resources to safeguard necessary research and observation activities in accordance with its strategic plan.

[1]UNEP/OzL.Conv.13/7.

[2] See document UNEP/OzL.Conv.13/6, annex.