At the latest global gathering to address ozone depletion, delegates agreed to accelerate the phase-out of hydrochloroflourocarbons (HCFCs), an ozone-depleting substance with powerful global warming potential.

Calling the decision "historic," UN Environmental Programme Executive Director, Achim Steiner, said it was "perhaps, the most important breakthrough in international environmental negotiations for at least five or six years."

Intergovernmental and nongovernmental organisations, UN agencies, academia, civil society, and industry, along with the 190 nations (plus the European Commission), composed the more than 900 parties that attended the nineteenth meeting of the Parties of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MOP-19) from 17-21 September.

The decision marks a considerable hastening of the previously agreed phase-out of HCFCs, moving the process up by 10 years. Under the previous agreement, developed countries were to have ceased using HCFCs by 2030 and developing countries by 2040. Developing countries will seek financial assistance for the process from the Multilateral Fund.

NGO's such as Greenpeace, while lauding the success and ambition of MOP-19, warned the body to carefully consider which substitutes for HCFCs to utilise, as many have just as great a potential to contribute to ozone depletion and global warming, reminding the body that HCFCs were originally chosen as a temporary substitute to the more harmful CFCs (chloroflourocarbons).

Other decisions concerning ODS

Accelerating HCFC phase-out was not the only accomplishment of the meeting. As discussions closed, MOP-19 adopted 29 decisions regarding essential-use nominations and related issues borne from the Technology and Economic Assistance Panel (TEAP), critical-use nominations for methyl bromide, monitoring transboundary movements and illegal trade in ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and budgets.

Numerous states called for a better framework for addressing illegal trade in ODS. Gabon, Tanzania, Senegal, South Africa, and Samoa, all highlighted a need for help in tackling illegal trade. Portugal, speaking for the EU, pledged EU assistance for developing countries, along with aid in other areas, such as controlling new substances and managing ODS banks. Kyrgyzstan underlined the problems illegal trade poses for transitional economies. The Republic of Korea called for the implementation of licensing systems, while Malaysia endorsed the development of a tracking system for ODS.

The delegates also looked at voluntary domestic options for combating illegal trade. The European Commission, along with several others, called for a decision referring to prior informed consent, while the US, Australia and others stated that illegal trade was best tackled at the national level via the implementation of licensing systems.

In its final decision on the issue of illegal transboundary trade of ODS, MOP-19 acknowledged the need for better monitoring systems as well as the benefits of transparency and urged parties to implement and enforce their import and export licensing systems. The body also asked its members, particularly those with firmly established monitoring mechanisms in place, to further bolster their prevention framework by establishing domestic information-sharing and internal checks.

Celebrating 20 years of success and looking to the future

MOP-19 closed with its Montreal Declaration, which commemorated the "landmark agreement" on the phase-out of HCFCs along with MOP's 20th anniversary, which it celebrated just prior to the commencement of the meeting. Recognising the significant contributions of science and international cooperation, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to remain vigilant in the protection of the ozone layer and to the complete phase-out of all ODS, but to do so in a way that is eco-friendly and addresses other important issues, such as climate change.

"We've got a good framework in place, we're putting more meat on the bone every day and we're excited about it and we're going to move full steam ahead," stated Canadian Environmental Minister John Baird.

"Summary of the Nineteenth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer," EARTH NEGOTIATIONS BULLETIN, 24 September 2007; "UN Speeds up HCFC phaseout," BANGKOK POST, 22 September 2007; "Combating Climate Change Given Big Confidence in Canada," UNEP, 22 September 2007.