Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer

The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer is a multilateral environmental agreement established in 1985 to protect the ozone layer by phasing out substances responsible for ozone depletion. It has been ratified by all 197 UN members and has contributed substantially to global ozone recovery.

Background Concerns about harm to Earth’s protective ozone layer arose in the 1970s because of certain industrial chemicals. This led UNEP to convene meetings of experts beginning in 1981 to negotiate joint action. These meetings culminated in the signing of the Vienna Convention in 1985 under UNEP auspices.

While the Convention itself did not ban ozone-depleting substances (ODS), it provided the framework for cooperative control measures by setting obligations and establishing methods to amend protocols with specific targets as knowledge evolved.

Main Components

The key objectives outlined in the Vienna Convention include:

• Cooperation between parties in ozone layer research and monitoring
• Information exchange on technical knowledge and policies adopted
• Harmonizing appropriate policies to limit human activities disrupting the ozone layer
• Adoption of annexes with specific control measures

The Convention also establishes methods of calculation, information sharing, assessment panels, meetings, voting rules, budgeting, amendments and liability. This allows updating the agreement as the science progresses.

The Montreal Protocol

The most important outcome is the 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Facilitated by the Vienna Convention, the Montreal Protocol sets binding time targets for phasing out nearly 100 ODS used in aerosols, refrigeration and more. HFCs were later added. Without the Protocol, models estimate ozone layer destruction would have increased tenfold by 2050.

Implementation & Governance

Implementation relies on assessments by the Scientific Assessment Panel and Environmental Effects Assessment Panel which synthesize current research. Countries also report production and consumption data to track Protocol compliance.

The Protocol has been strengthened with adjustments and amendments passed by votes in Meetings of the Parties held every 1-3 years. A Multilateral Fund also helps developing countries meet phaseout costs.

Current Status & Achievements

As of 2022, the Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol have achieved:

• Universal ratification by all countries globally
• Phasing out 98% of ODS from 1986 peak levels
• Early signs of average ozone recovery
• Averting an estimated 2 million skin cancer cases by 2030 in U.S. alone

Work remains to halt illegal trade in ODS and curb substitutes like HFCs. But the Convention is held up as the gold standard of collaborative environmental action enshrining the “right to a healthy environment”.

International Day for Preservation of Ozone Layer

International Day for Preservation of Ozone Layer (or World Ozone Day) is observed every year on September 16 for the preservation of the Ozone Layer.  The day was designated by United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on December 19, 1994. Its observance commemorates the date in 1987 on which Montreal Protocol was signed on substances that deplete the ozone layer. It also is intended to spread awareness of the depletion of the Ozone Layer and search for solutions to preserve it.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2016