About the Montreal Protocol

The Montreal Protocol focuses on the protection of the earth’s ozone layer. This treaty has enabled both developed and developing countries to achieve a near total phase-out in the production and use of most ozone depleting substances. Because the majority of ozone depleting substances are also potent global warming gasses, the actions taken under the Montreal Protocol have contributed significantly to the global effort to address climate change.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL

• The Montreal Protocol has achieved universal participation by all states in the world, the number of participating States is 196, an achievement unprecedented by any treaty;
• It is estimated that without the Protocol, by the year 2050 ozone depletion would have risen to at least 50% in the northern hemisphere’s mid latitudes and 70% in the southern mid latitudes, about 10 times worse than current levels;
• The Montreal Protocol is estimated to have prevented: 19 million more cases of non-melanoma cancer, 1.5 million more cases of melanoma cancer, 130 million more cases of eye cataracts,
• Ninety seven per cent of all ozone depleting substances controlled by the global treaty known as the Montreal Protocol have been phased out – but what remains is still a challenge to eliminate;
• Global observations have verified that atmospheric levels of key ozone depleting substances are going down and it is believed that with implementation of the Protocol’s provisions the ozone layer should return to pre-1980 levels by 2050 to 2075;
• In 2003, political recognition of the Protocol came in the statement of then United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, who termed the Montreal Protocol “perhaps the single most successful international environmental agreement to date”.

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UNEP: INFORMATION NOTE, EARTH DAY ANNOUNCEMENT
DEVELOPING COUNTRY JOURNALISTS HONOURED BY UNITED NATIONS FOR THE BEST OZONE AND CLIMATE REPORTING