The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is a global agreement to protect the Earth’s ozone layer by phasing out the chemicals that deplete it. This phase-out plan includes both the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances. The landmark agreement was signed in 1987 and entered into force in 1989.

The parties to the Protocol meet once a year to make decisions aimed at ensuring the successful implementation of the agreement. These include adjusting or amending the Protocol, which has been done six times since its creation. The most recent amendment, the Kigali Amendment, called for the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in 2016. These HFCs were used as replacements for a batch of ozone-depleting substances eliminated by the original Montreal Protocol. Although they do not deplete the ozone layer, they are known to be powerful greenhouse gases and, thus, contributors to climate change.

The Montreal Protocol provided a set of practical, actionable tasks that were universally agreed on. The Protocol has successfully met its objectives thus far and continues to safeguard the ozone layer today. Thanks to the collaborative effort of nations around the world, the ozone layer is well on its way to recovery.

Eighteenth Meeting of the Parties

Decision XVIII/1: Membership of the Implementation Committee
Decision XVIII/2: Membership of the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol
Decision XVIII/3: Co-Chairs of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
Decision XVIII/4: Co-chair of the Chemicals Technical Options Committee
Decision XVIII/5: Financial matters: financial reports and budgets
Decision XVIII/6: Ratification of the Vienna Convention, the Montreal Protocol and the London, Copenhagen, Montreal and Beijing amendments to the Protocol
Decision XVIII/7: Essential-use exemptions for Parties not operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 for controlled substances for 2007 and 2008
Decision XVIII/8: Essential-use exemption for chlorofluorocarbon-113 for aerospace applications in the Russian Federation for 2007
Decision XVIII/9: Review of draft terms of reference for case studies called for under decision XVII/17 on environmentally sound destruction of ozone-depleting substances
Decision XVIII/10: Sources of carbon tetrachloride emissions and opportunities for reductions
Decision XVIII/11: Sources of n-propyl bromide emissions, alternatives available and opportunities for reductions
Decision XVIII/12: Future work following the Ozone Secretariat workshop on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change/Technology and Economic Assessment Panel special report
Decision XVIII/13: Critical-use exemptions for methyl bromide for 2007 and 2008
Decision XVIII/14: Montreal Protocol/International Plant Protection Convention cooperation on the use of alternatives to methyl bromide for quarantine and preshipment
Decision XVIII/15: Laboratory and analytical critical uses of methyl bromide
Decision XVIII/16: Difficulties faced by some Article 5 Parties manufacturing metered-dose inhalers which use chlorofluorocarbons
Decision XVIII/17: Treatment of stockpiled ozone-depleting substances relative to compliance
Decision XVIII/18: Preventing illegal trade in ozone-depleting substances through systems for monitoring their transboundary movement between Parties
Decision XVIII/19: Guidelines for disclosure of interest for groups such as the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel and its technical options committees
Decision XVIII/20: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by Armenia
Decision XVIII/21: Non-compliance in 2005 with the control measures of the Montreal Protocol governing consumption of the controlled substances in Annex B, group II, (carbon tetrachloride) and Annex B, group III, (methyl chloroform) by the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Decision XVIII/22: Non-compliance in 2005 with the control measures of the Montreal Protocol governing consumption of the controlled substances in Annex A, group I, (CFCs) by Dominica
Decision XVIII/23: Non-compliance in 2005 with the control measures of the Montreal Protocol governing consumption of the controlled substance in Annex E (methyl bromide) by Ecuador and request for a plan of action
Decision XVIII/24: Potential non-compliance in 2005 with the control measures of the Montreal Protocol governing consumption of the controlled substances in Annex A, group I, (CFCs) by Eritrea and request for a plan of action
Decision XVIII/25: Non-compliance with regard to the transfer of CFC production rights by Greece
Decision XVIII/26: Revised plan of action to return Guatemala to compliance with the control measures in Article 2H of the Montreal Protocol
Decision XVIII/27: Potential non-compliance in 2005 with the control measures of the Montreal Protocol governing consumption of the controlled substance in Annex B group II, (carbon tetrachloride) by the Islamic Republic of Iran and request for a plan of action
Decision XVIII/28: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by Kenya
Decision XVIII/29: Request for change in baseline data by Mexico
Decision XVIII/30: Non-compliance in 2005 with the control measures of the Montreal Protocol governing consumption of the controlled substance in Annex B, group II, (carbon tetrachloride) by Mexico
Decision XVIII/31: Non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol by Pakistan
Decision XVIII/32: Non-compliance in 2005 with the control measures of the Montreal Protocol governing consumption of the controlled substances in Annex A, group I, (CFCs) and Annex B, group II, (carbon tetrachloride) by Paraguay and request for a plan of action
Decision XVIII/33: Non-compliance with data-reporting requirements for the purpose of establishing baselines under paragraphs 3 and 8 ter (d) of Article 5 by Serbia
Decision XVIII/34: Data and information provided by the Parties in accordance with Article 7 of the Montreal Protocol
Decision XVIII/35: Report on the establishment of licensing systems under Article 4B of the Montreal Protocol
Decision XVIII/36: Dialogue on key future challenges to be faced by the Montreal Protocol
Decision XVIII/37: Nineteenth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
Annex I: Trust Fund for the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer: approved 2006, 2007 and 2008 budgets
Annex II: Trust Fund for the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer: scale of contributions by the Parties for the years 2007 and 2008
Annex III: Essential-use authorizations for 2007 and 2008 of chlorofluorocarbons for metered-dose inhalers approved by the Eighteenth Meeting of the Parties