Lessons Learnt

The Montreal Protocol offers many lessons that could be applied to solving other global environmental issues. the Montreal Protocol teaches us to:

Adhere to the "precautionary principle" because waiting for complete scientific proof can delay action to the point where the damage will become irreversible.

Send consistent and credible signals to industry (e.g. by adopting legally binding phase-out schedules) so that they have an incentive to develop new and cost-effective alternative technologies.

Ensure that improved scientific understanding can be incorporated quickly into decisions about the provisions of a treaty.

Promote universal participation by recognizing the "common but differentiated responsibility" of developing and developed countries and ensuring the necessary financial and technological support to developing countries.

Control measures should be based on an integrated assessment of science, economics, and technology.