You are here: Home > Orientation Hall > Modules > III

International Regimes on Ozone Layer

• The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer
• The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete Ozone Layer

- The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (adopted, 1985, entered into force, 1988)

i. Protect human health and the environment against adverse effects resulting from human activities: The ultimate objective of the Convention is to protect human health and the environment against adverse effects resulting from human activities which modify or likely to modify the ozone layer and urges the Parties to take appropriate measures in accordance with the provisions in the Convention and its Protocols which are in force for that Party.

ii. Cooperate for better understanding: To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the Parties, within their capabilities, are expected to: cooperate to better understand and assess the effects of human activities on the ozone layer and the effects of the modification of the ozone layer; adopt appropriate measures and cooperate in harmonizing appropriate policies to control the activities that are causing the modification of the ozone layer; cooperate in the formulation of agreed measures for the implementation of this Convention; and cooperate with competent international bodies to implement effectively this Convention and protocols to which they are party.

back to the top

- The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete Ozone Layer (adopted, 1987; entered into force, 1989)

i. Controls of production of ozone depleting substances: The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete Ozone Layer is a protocol under the Vienna Convention. The Protocol controls the production and consumption of the most commercially and environmentally significant ozone-depleting substances - those listed in the Annexes to the Protocol. One feature of the Montreal Protocol which makes it unique is Article 6 that requires the control measures to be revised at least every four years (starting 1990), based on the review and assessment of latest available-information on scientific, environmental, technical and economic aspects of the depletion of ozone layer. Based on reports of assessment panels appointed by the Parties and taking into consideration the needs and situation of the developing countries, the Protocol has already been adjusted and amended twice.

ii. Amendments to the Montreal Protocol: Parties to the Montreal Protocol have so far made five modifications, four of which strengthened the control provisions of the instrument. These modifications include the: London Amendment (1990); Copenhagen Amendment (1992); Vienna (1995), Montreal Amendment (1997); and the Beijing Amendment (1999). The London Amendment made substantive revisions regarding technology transfer and financing. In London, the Multilateral Fund was also created as the interim financial mechanism of the Protocol and, in 1992, became the permanent facility managed by the World Bank, UNEP, UNDP and UNIDO. The Copenhagen Amendment included the phase-out in the production and consumption of several halocarbon compounds by the end of 1995, and halons by the end of 1993.