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 XIII/3: Financial reports and budgets for the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer

The Conference of the Parties,

Recalling its decision XII(II)/4 on financial reports and budgets for the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer,

Taking note of the financial reports for the Trust Fund for the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer for the fiscal years 2021, 2022 and 2023,[1]

Recognizing the voluntary contributions of parties as an essential complement for the effective implementation of 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 Trust Fund for the Vienna Convention 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 and hence will, as of the seventh session of the Environment Assembly, no longer require a decision by Member States,

Welcoming also the continued efficient management by the Ozone Secretariat of the finances of the Trust Fund,

Decides:

  1. To approve the budget of the Trust Fund for the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer for 2025 in the amount of 911,910 United States dollars, the budget for 2026 in the amount of 927,730 dollars and the budget for 2027 in the amount of 1,504,030 dollars, as set out in table 1 of the annex to the present decision;
  2. To reaffirm a working capital reserve equivalent to 15 per cent of the annual operational budgets for the triennium 2025‒2027, to be used to meet the final expenditures under the Trust Fund;
  3. To approve the contributions to be paid by the parties, of 782,000 dollars in 2025, 782,000 dollars in 2026 and 782,000 dollars in 2027, as set out in table 2 of the annex to the present decision;
  4. To authorize the Executive Secretary to draw down from the cash balance the funds required to cover the shortfall between the level of contributions agreed on in paragraph 3 above and the approved budgets for the triennium 2025‒2027, as set out in paragraph 1 above;
  5. To note with concern that some parties have not paid their contributions for 2024 and prior years, and to urge all parties to pay their outstanding contributions as well as their future contributions promptly and in full;
  6. To request the Executive Secretary, and to invite the President of the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties, to enter into discussions with any party whose contributions have been outstanding for two or more years, with a view to finding a way forward, and to also request the Executive Secretary to report on the outcome of those discussions to the Conference of the Parties at its fourteenth meeting, to be held in 2027;
  7. To consider further, at its fourteenth meeting, how to address the issue of outstanding contributions to the Trust Fund, and to request the Executive Secretary to continue to publish and regularly update information on the status of contributions to the Trust Fund;
  8. To request the Executive Secretary:
    1. To ensure the full utilization of the programme support resources available to the Ozone Secretariat in the triennium 2025‒2027 and in later years and, where possible, to offset programme support resources against the administrative components of the approved budget;
    2. To indicate in future financial reports of the Trust Fund the amounts of cash on hand, in addition to contributions that have not yet been received;
  1. To also request the Executive Secretary to prepare budgets and work programmes for the triennium 2028‒2030, based on the projected needs for the triennium, for the following two budget scenarios:
    1. A zero-nominal-growth scenario;
    2. A scenario based on recommended adjustments to the zero-nominal-growth scenario, indicating the added costs or savings related thereto;
  1. To note with appreciation the extension of the Trust Fund until 31 December 2030, as granted by the United Nations Environment Assembly at its sixth session.[2]

Annex to decision XIII/3

Approved budgets for the Trust Fund for the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer for 2025, 2026 and 2027 and parties’ contributions to the Trust Fund for the Vienna Convention

Table 1
Approved budgets for 2025, 2026 and 2027 for the Trust Fund for the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer

(United States dollars)

Budget line

Cost category

2025

2026

2027

1100

Employee salaries, allowances and benefits

698 000

712 000

726 000

1300

Conference services costs

 

 

 

1310

Conference of the Parties

-

-

252 000

1320

Bureau meetings

-

-

20 000

1330

Ozone Research Managers meeting

-

-

20 000

1340

Promotional activities for the protection of the ozone layer

10 000

10 000

10 000

1350

Hospitality

-

-

15 000

Subtotal: conference services costs

10 000

10 000

317 000

3300

Travel of Article 5 parties

 

 

 

3340

Bureau meetings

-

-

20 000

3345

Ozone Research Managers meeting

-

-

160 000

Subtotal: travel of Article 5 parties

-

-

180 000

1600

Staff travel on official business

30 000

30 000

30 000

4000–5300

Operating costs

 

 

 

4100

Expendable equipment

4 000

4 000

6 000

4200

Non-expendable equipment

10 000

10 000

10 000

4300

Rental of premises

20 000

20 000

20 000

5100

Operation and maintenance of equipment

10 000

10 000

10 000

5200

Reporting costs

5 000

5 000

12 000

5300

Miscellaneous costs

20 000

20 000

20 000

Subtotal: operating costs

69 000

69 000

78 000

Total direct costs

807 000

821 000

1 331 000

 

Programme support costs

104 910

106 730

173 030

Grand total

911 910

927 730

1 504 030

Appendix to table 1

Explanatory notes on the approved budgets for 2025, 2026 and 2027 for the Trust Fund for the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer

Cost category

Budget line

Notes

Employee salaries, allowances and benefits

1100

The estimates under this category have been increased by 2 per cent for each year of the triennium to allow for inflation and within-grade increments for staff salaries.

Conference services costs

1300

This cost category covers the costs associated with the meetings of the ozone treaties, including venue costs, editing and translation of meeting documents, interpretation during the meeting, and conference services staff time and travel.

 

1310

The fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention will be held back to back with the Thirty‑Ninth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, in 2027.

 

1320

Two Bureau meetings are scheduled to be held in 2027. The first will be held back to back with the thirteenth meeting of the Ozone Research Managers; the second will be combined with the meeting of the Bureau of the Thirty‑Eighth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol.

 

1330

The thirteenth meeting of the Ozone Research Managers will be held in 2027 at the headquarters of the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva.

 

1340

Promotional activities for the protection of the ozone layer. The allocated amount is generally used along with the budget allocated for communication-related activities under the Trust Fund for the Montreal Protocol.

 

1350

The receptions at the thirteenth meeting of the Ozone Research Managers and the combined fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties and Thirty-Ninth Meeting of the Parties.

Travel of Article 5 parties

3300

This cost category covers the participation of Article 5 parties and countries with economies in transition in the meetings of the ozone treaties. Given that the meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention is normally held jointly with that year’s Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, participation costs are borne by the Trust Fund for the Montreal Protocol.

 

3340

Participation costs for the two Bureau meetings to be held in 2027.

 

3345

Participation costs for the thirteenth meeting of the Ozone Research Managers.

Staff travel on official business

1600

The travel of Ozone Secretariat staff to organize and participate in the thirteenth meeting of the Ozone Research Managers and the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties and to provide support to network and capacity building meetings.

Operating costs

4000–5300

The budget allocated to this category is used along with the amount allocated for similar budget lines for operations under the Trust Fund for the Montreal Protocol.

 

4100

The budget line caters for the cost of software licences, stationery, office supplies and consumables.

 

4200

This budget line covers the cost of furniture, computers and peripherals.

 

4300

This budget line covers office rental and utilities costs.

 

5100

This budget line covers the costs of the service-level agreements for multifunction printers, information technology support provided by the United Nations Office at Nairobi, insurance of equipment, and partial annual maintenance and hosting costs for the website and the various digital tools.

 

5200

The budget for 2025 and 2026 will provide for general reporting costs that cover the editing and translation of ad hoc documents (not related to meetings) and publications. The 2027 reporting cost will provide for the report of the Ozone Research Managers at their thirteenth meeting and include other general reporting costs mentioned above.

 

5300

The Miscellaneous costs budget line replaces the Sundry budget line and includes the costs of office communications, freight and World Ozone Day celebrations.

 

Table 2
Parties’ contributions to the Trust Fund for the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer

(United States dollars)

Party

Adjusted United Nations
scale with 22 per cent
maximum assessment
rate considered

2025
contributions
by parties

2026
contributions
by parties

2027
contributions
by parties

Afghanistan

-

-

-

-

Albania

-

-

-

-

Algeria

0.109

851

851

851

Andorra

-

-

-

-

Angola

-

-

-

-

Antigua and Barbuda

-

-

-

-

Argentina

0.718

5 613

5 613

5 613

Armenia

-

-

-

-

Australia

2.107

16 480

16 480

16 480

Austria

0.678

5 301

5 301

5 301

Azerbaijan

-

-

-

-

Bahamas

-

-

-

-

Bahrain

-

-

-

-

Bangladesh

-

-

-

-

Barbados

-

-

-

-

Belarus

-

-

-

-

Belgium

0.827

6 464

6 464

6 464

Belize

-

-

-

-

Benin

-

-

-

-

Bhutan

-

-

-

-

Bolivia (Plurinational State of)

-

-

-

-

Bosnia and Herzegovina

-

-

-

-

Botswana

-

-

-

-

Brazil

2.010

15 715

15 715

15 715

Brunei Darussalam

-

-

-

-

Bulgaria

-

-

-

-

Burkina Faso

-

-

-

-

Burundi

-

-

-

-

Cabo Verde

-

-

-

-

Cambodia

-

-

-

-

Cameroon

-

-

-

-

Canada

2.624

20 516

20 516

20 516

Central African Republic

-

-

-

-

Chad

-

-

-

-

Chile

0.419

3 279

3 279

3 279

China

15.228

119 084

119 084

119 084

Colombia

0.246

1 920

1 920

1 920

Comoros

-

-

-

-

Congo

-

-

-

-

Cook Islands

-

-

-

-

Costa Rica

-

-

-

-

Côte d’Ivoire

-

-

-

-

Croatia

-

-

-

-

Cuba

-

-

-

-

Cyprus

-

-

-

-

Czechia

0.339

2 654

2 654

2 654

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

-

-

-

-

Democratic Republic of the Congo

-

-

-

-

Denmark

0.552

4 317

4 317

4 317

Djibouti

-

-

-

-

Dominica

-

-

-

-

Dominican Republic

-

-

-

-

Ecuador

-

-

-

-

Egypt

0.139

1 085

1 085

1 085

El Salvador

-

-

-

-

Equatorial Guinea

-

-

-

-

Eritrea

-

-

-

-

Estonia

-

-

-

-

Eswatini

-

-

-

-

Ethiopia

-

-

-

-

European Union

2.496

19 517

19 517

19 517

Fiji

-

-

-

-

Finland

0.416

3 255

3 255

3 255

France

4.311

33 709

33 709

33 709

Gabon

-

-

-

-

Gambia

-

-

-

-

Georgia

-

-

-

-

Germany

6.101

47 707

47 707

47 707

Ghana

-

-

-

-

Greece

0.324

2 537

2 537

2 537

Grenada

-

-

-

-

Guatemala

-

-

-

-

Guinea

-

-

-

-

Guinea-Bissau

-

-

-

-

Guyana

-

-

-

-

Haiti

-

-

-

-

Holy See

-

-

-

-

Honduras

-

-

-

-

Hungary

0.228

1 780

1 780

1 780

Iceland

-

-

-

-

India

1.042

8 150

8 150

8 150

Indonesia

0.548

4 286

4 286

4 286

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

0.370

2 896

2 896

2 896

Iraq

0.128

999

999

999

Ireland

0.438

3 427

3 427

3 427

Israel

0.560

4 380

4 380

4 380

Italy

3.184

24 896

24 896

24 896

Jamaica

-

-

-

-

Japan

8.019

62 711

62 711

62 711

Jordan

-

-

-

-

Kazakhstan

0.133

1 038

1 038

1 038

Kenya

-

-

-

-

Kiribati

-

-

-

-

Kuwait

0.234

1 827

1 827

1 827

Kyrgyzstan

-

-

-

-

Lao People’s Democratic Republic

-

-

-

-

Latvia

-

-

-

-

Lebanon

-

-

-

-

Lesotho

-

-

-

-

Liberia

-

-

-

-

Libya

-

-

-

-

Liechtenstein

-

-

-

-

Lithuania

-

-

-

-

Luxembourg

-

-

-

-

Madagascar

-

-

-

-

Malawi

-

-

-

-

Malaysia

0.347

2 717

2 717

2 717

Maldives

-

-

-

-

Mali

-

-

-

-

Malta

-

-

-

-

Marshall Islands

-

-

-

-

Mauritania

-

-

-

-

Mauritius

-

-

-

-

Mexico

1.219

9 532

9 532

9 532

Micronesia (Federated States of)

-

-

-

-

Monaco

-

-

-

-

Mongolia

-

-

-

-

Montenegro

-

-

-

-

Morocco

-

-

-

-

Mozambique

-

-

-

-

Myanmar

-

-

-

-

Namibia

-

-

-

-

Nauru

-

-

-

-

Nepal

-

-

-

-

Netherlands (Kingdom of the)

1.375

10 750

10 750

10 750

New Zealand

0.308

2 412

2 412

2 412

Nicaragua

-

-

-

-

Niger

-

-

-

-

Nigeria

0.182

1 421

1 421

1 421

Niue

-

-

-

-

North Macedonia

-

-

-

-

Norway

0.678

5 301

5 301

5 301

Oman

0.111

867

867

867

Pakistan

0.114

890

890

890

Palau

-

-

-

-

Panama

-

-

-

-

Papua New Guinea

-

-

-

-

Paraguay

-

-

-

-

Peru

0.163

1 272

1 272

1 272

Philippines

0.212

1 655

1 655

1 655

Poland

0.836

6 534

6 534

6 534

Portugal

0.352

2 756

2 756

2 756

Qatar

0.269

2 100

2 100

2 100

Republic of Korea

2.570

20 095

20 095

20 095

Republic of Moldova

-

-

-

-

Romania

0.311

2 436

2 436

2 436

Russian Federation

1.863

14 567

14 567

14 567

Rwanda

-

-

-

-

Saint Kitts and Nevis

-

-

-

-

Saint Lucia

-

-

-

-

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

-

-

-

-

Samoa

-

-

-

-

San Marino

-

-

-

-

Sao Tome and Principe

-

-

-

-

Saudi Arabia

1.182

9 243

9 243

9 243

Senegal

-

-

-

-

Serbia

-

-

-

-

Seychelles

-

-

-

-

Sierra Leone

-

-

-

-

Singapore

0.503

3 935

3 935

3 935

Slovakia

0.155

1 210

1 210

1 210

Slovenia

-

-

-

-

Solomon Islands

-

-

-

-

Somalia

-

-

-

-

South Africa

0.244

1 905

1 905

1 905

South Sudan

-

-

-

-

Spain

2.130

16 660

16 660

16 660

Sri Lanka

-

-

-

-

State of Palestine

-

-

-

-

Sudan

-

-

-

-

Suriname

-

-

-

-

Sweden

0.870

6 800

6 800

6 800

Switzerland

1.132

8 853

8 853

8 853

Syrian Arab Republic

-

-

-

-

Tajikistan

-

-

-

-

Thailand

0.367

2 873

2 873

2 873

Timor-Leste

-

-

-

-

Togo

-

-

-

-

Tonga

-

-

-

-

Trinidad and Tobago

-

-

-

-

Tunisia

-

-

-

-

Türkiye

0.844

6 597

6 597

6 597

Turkmenistan

-

-

-

-

Tuvalu

-

-

-

-

Uganda

-

-

-

-

Ukraine

-

-

-

-

United Arab Emirates

0.634

4 957

4 957

4 957

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

4.368

34 154

34 154

34 154

United Republic of Tanzania

-

-

-

-

United States of America

21.963

171 748

171 748

171 748

Uruguay

-

-

-

-

Uzbekistan

-

-

-

-

Vanuatu

-

-

-

-

Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)

0.175

1 366

1 366

1 366

Viet Nam

-

-

-

-

Yemen

-

-

-

-

Zambia

-

-

-

-

Zimbabwe

-

-

-

-

Total

100.000

782 000

782 000

782 000

 

[1] UNEP/OzL.Pro.34/5; UNEP/OzL.Pro.35/5; UNEP/OzL.Conv.13/5–UNEP/OzL.Pro.36/5.

[2] Decision 6/6.