Note for the International Day for the Preservation
of the Ozone Layer, 16 September 1998

1. Each 16 September we pause to mark the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, so designated by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 49/114, commemorating the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

2. The main objective of the Montreal Protocol is to protect the thin layer of ozone in the stratosphere, located between 10 and 50 kilometres above the Earth, that absorbs all but a small fraction of the harmful ultraviolet radiation (UV-B) emanating from the Sun and protects all life on Earth.

3. In the early 1970s, scientists discovered that emissions of some human-made chemicals could deplete the ozone in this layer. The most common of these are the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and methyl bromide used in refrigeration, air-conditioning, fire-fighting, metal-cleaning, foam-blowing, soil fumigation and so on. The result would be more UV-B radiation reaching the Earth?s surface, more skin cancers and cataracts, reduced plant and animal productivity, poorer air quality, damage to plastics and an impact on climate.

4. Observations of the atmosphere since then have proved that ozone was being depleted at a rate of about 5 per cent a decade over the middle and higher latitudes of the Earth. An ?ozone hole? appeared annually over the Antarctic.

5. Alarmed by these discoveries, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) initiated scientific assessments in 1976 and, as certainty grew, started intergovernmental negotiations to take action to protect the ozone layer. As a result, the Governments of the world agreed first on the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, in 1985, and then on the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, on 16 September 1987.

6. The Convention laid down a general commitment to protect the ozone layer. The Protocol, which was strengthened on four subsequent occasions, obligates all parties to phase out the ozone-depleting substances according to a specified timetable.

7. The developing countries are given a grace-period of 10 years. In 1991 the parties to the Protocol established a Multilateral Fund, subscribed to by the industrialized countries, to meet the increased costs of developing countries and promote the transfer of alternative substances and technologies.

8. In some areas of global endeavour there has been more talk than action. In the case of ozone depletion, fortunately, the global community moved with astonishing speed from concern to discussion, discussion to agreement, and agreement to action.

9. As a result of the Protocol, the total consumption of CFCs has fallen by more than 80 per cent since 1986. The consumption of CFCs, carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform and hydrobromofluorocarbons (HBFCs) was completely phased out by developed countries in 1996, except for a consumption of around 15,000 tons for essential uses approved by the parties.

10. Atmospheric scientists have detected the results of this reduction on the abundance of these chemicals in the atmosphere. They predict that, given the full implementation of the Montreal Protocol by all the countries, the ozone layer will begin its recovery within a few years and complete it by the middle of the twenty-first century.

11. There are still some problems and challenges to be faced, including the illegal trade in CFCs. The parties to the Protocol are very concerned about this problem and have decided that each party should have a licensing system to import or export CFCs and other chemicals that destroy the ozone layer.

12. Massive geopolitical and economic changes affected the status of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe after 1989. As a result, the Russian Federation and several other countries admitted in 1995 that they would be unable to follow the phase-out schedule for ozone-depleting substances. The Global Environment Facility, begun in 1991 with ozone depletion as one of the four global environmental issues within its mandate, came to their rescue, and has so far approved $120 million to phase out the CFCs in these countries by the year 2000.

13. Methyl bromide is an ozone-depleting substance used for fumigation of soils, structures and storage. It is mostly used in soil fumigation for high-value crops in some countries. Certain countries, such as the Netherlands, have banned its use because of other toxic properties of this chemical. The parties to the Montreal Protocol agreed to the phase-out dates of 2005 for developed countries and 2015 for developing countries. There is considerable danger that the consumption of methyl bromide could spread to more countries and to more uses than at present owing to pressure from the manufacturers. The challenge facing Governments is to stop this in time. Many alternatives are emerging for methyl bromide in various uses, and the Multilateral Fund has adopted a $30 million programme to demonstrate these alternatives in developing countries.

14. The Montreal Protocol allowed a grace-period for developing countries in recognition of the fact that time will be needed for them to obtain and introduce alternative technologies. They will be required to implement the control measures from 1 July 1999 and complete their phase-out according to schedule. This is a crucial challenge for the next 10 years.

15. This year the celebration of the International Day could focus on further action needed and themes relevant to the countries, such as ozone-safe products, consumer action, illegal trade, a consumption freeze in 1999 in developing countries, creating awareness in small enterprises, alternatives to methyl bromide, and so on.

16. Business and industry should be encouraged to develop and implement voluntary guidelines and codes of conduct which can help to promote and disseminate best practices in the context of environmentally and socially responsible entrepreneurship, and to develop further those that already exist. To be effective, such codes must be developed and implemented by business and industry themselves, for this will ensure their commitment to this process. Equally important, their credibility with stakeholders requires that such codes stimulate positive action going well beyond ?business as usual?. Therefore, an essential element is transparency in the monitoring and public reporting of progress.

17. The following activities, among others, could be undertaken by developing countries in order to achieve the consumption freeze in 1999:

(a) Disseminate messages from the Ministry of the Environment or the ministry in charge of ozone issues concerning the importance of meeting the freeze goal to consumer organizations, industry, other ministries and the public;

(b) Provide support to industry; for example, provide copies of the technical publications of the United Nations Environment Programme Industry and Environment and the reports of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel and its Technical Options Committees;

(c) Monitor the progress of projects financed by the Multilateral Fund with industry, firms, enterprises and farms on a continual basis;

(d) Encourage multinational corporations to support the freeze goals in your country.

18. The following activities could be carried out by all countries:

(a) Establish a licensing system for imports and exports of ozone-depleting substances;

(b) Promote participation by industry in a smooth and efficient transition away from CFC-based metered-dose inhalers;

(c) Ban the market placement and sale of virgin CFCs, except to meet the basic domestic needs of developing countries;

(d) Ratify the London, Copenhagen and Montreal Amendments, as required.

19. The history of the Montreal Protocol has been an inspiring saga of international cooperation between Governments, scientists, technology experts, industry, and non-governmental organizations under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme. It is a shining example of how to solve international environmental problems.