1. The depleting of the Ozone layer
Montreal Protocol on Substances
that Deplete the Ozone Layer
2. Definitions
The ozone layer is a layer
in Earth's
atmosphere containing
relatively high
concentrations of ozone
(O3) found in the lower
portion of
the stratosphere from
approximately 20 to 30
kilometers above Earth.
3. The Montreal Protocol is an environmental
agreement signed on 16 September 1987 by 46
countries and entered into force on 1 January
1989
4. How does the Protocol work?
The Montreal Protocol
controls the emition of
various gases that are
dangerous to the
Ozone layer. Its main
goal is to phase out
the gasses that mean
danger to the ozone
layer.
5. Gases
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
One of the most important goals
of the Protocol is to phase out
CFSs because of it’s an active
ozone reducer. The limitation
began in 1991.
6. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)
The HCFCs are transitional CFCs
replacements, used as
refrigerants, solvents, blowing
agents for plastic foam
manufacture, and fire
extinguishers. The parties of the
protocol had agreed to set year
2013 as the time to freeze the
consumption and production of
HCFCs. They also agreed to start
reducing its consumption and
production in 2015.
7. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
HFCs replaced CFCs and
HCFCs in developed
countries after they
were phased out. They
don’t harm the ozone
layer, however they are
super-greenhouse gases
with an extremely high
global warming
potential.
8. Multilateral Fund
The Multilateral Fund was established in 1991 to
assist developing countries meet their Montreal
Protocol commitments. Since 1991, the Fund has
approved activities including industrial
conversion, technical assistance, training and
capacity building worth over US $3.0 billion.
9. The reason the Protocol is needed
• The main reason the Protocol was created is to
protect the Earth’s fragile Ozone layer
• Respond quickly to new scientific information.
• Enables the control of new chemicals
10. Parties
The Protocol was ratified by
197 states and the European
Union making it the most
widely ratified treaty in United
Nations history along with the
Vienna Protocol.
11. Without the ozone layer
Ozone absorbs most of the
ultraviolet-B (UV-B)
radiation reaching the
surface of the
planet, depletion of the
ozone layer by CFCs would
lead to an in increase in
UV-B radiation at the
surface, resulting in an
increase in skin cancer and
other impacts such as
damage to crops.
12. Other regulations
There is also an other
regulation called the
Vienna
Convention, which also
focuses on reducing the
global consumption of
controlled ozone
depleting substances
13. Amendments
There has been five modifications
made to the Montreal Protocol so
far and four of them strengthened
the Instrument. These
modifications are:
• London Amendment (1990)
• Copenhagen Amendment (1992)
• Vienna (1995)
• Montreal Amendment (1997)
• Beijing Amendment (1999)
14. Adjustments
There has been also
several adjustments to
the Protocol in
1990, 1992, 1997, 199
9 and in 2007
