The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer is now the first environmental treaty to be ratified by all 196 members of the United Nations.
The announcement was made on Wednesday that the world’s youngest nation, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, has now ratified the treaty.
Wednesday was the United Nations International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, marking the 22-year anniversary of the completion of the protocol.
Agreed in 1987 following the discovery of the “ozone hole”, the Protocol protects the ozone layer from damage caused by certain industrial chemicals known as ozone-depleting substances (ODS). The Protocol will, by the end of this year, have banned production of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerants and solvents and halon fire extinguishants. It has set a clear timetable for phasing out other harmful substances such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and methyl bromide. As a result of these actions the ozone layer is expected to return to normal levels from 2050 onwards.
Because ODS are also potent greenhouse gases, the Protocol can be an effective tool against climate change. However, some important challenges remain, as ODS are being increasingly replaced by hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) which have global warming potentials up to 14,800 times higher than carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas.
It is hoped that the success of the Montreal Protocol can serve as an inspiration for possible sector-specific actions on HFCs during the climate change negotiations. As HFCs are controlled by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol, the EU has been promoting synergies between the climate framework and the Montreal Protocol.
Parties to the Montreal Protocol have started discussing a proposal to cap and reduce the global consumption of HFCs. The Copenhagen conference in December is a further opportunity to ensure that the international climate and ozone layer regimes co-operate in a cost-effective and environmentally sound way.
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