Governments of the world established The Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layerin 1985. Through this Convention, governments committed themselves to protect the ozone layer and to co-operate with each other in scientific research to improve understanding of atmospheric processes.
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, adopted by Governments in 1987, aims to reduce and eventually eliminate emissions of man-made ozone depleting substances. The Montreal Protocol has since been strengthened through four amendments and multiple adjustments agreed at Meetings of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in London (1990), Copenhagen (1992), Vienna (1995), Montreal (1997), and Beijing (1999). Adjustments, which bind all parties, are changes in the phaseout timetable for existing controlled substances (ozone depleting substances covered by the Protocol). Amendments are other more significant changes, such as adding new controlled substances; Parties are not bound by amendments unless they ratify them.
Other Treaty-Related Information provides: the list of countries which are Party to the Convention, the Protocol and the Amendments of the Protocol, as well as information on the ratification dates, all detailed in the Status of Ratification; the list of controlled substances and their phaseout schedules; and the technical definition of an Article 5 country--a developing country eligible to delay its implementation of control provisions and receive assistance under the Multilateral Fund.
|
