The Montreal Protocol On Substances That Depletes The Ozone Layer

The Montreal Protocol to Substances that Depletes the Ozone Layer is one of the most successful environmental protection agreements designed to reduce the production and consumption of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS).

16 September is International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. It celebrates the anniversary of the day the Montreal Protocol came into effect.

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The Montreal Protocol sets binding progressive phase-out obligations for developed and developing countries for all the major ozone-depleting substances, including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, and less damaging transitional chemicals such as hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). In 2016 the Montreal Protocol also became responsible for setting binding progressive phase-down obligations for the 18 main hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

The Montreal Protocol has been further strengthened through six Amendments, which have brought forward phase-out schedules and added new substances to the list of substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol. The Amendments are:

• London 1990

• Copenhagen 1992

• Vienna 1995

• Montreal 1997

• Beijing 1999

• Kigali 2016

Besides helping to protect and restore the ozone layer, the Montreal Protocol has also produced other significant environmental benefits. Most notably, the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances, which are often also high global warming gases, has benefitted the global climate by reducing the amount of greenhouse gas going into the atmosphere.

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Belize acceded to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer on 6 June 1997.