The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion. It was agreed on 16 September 1987, and entered into force on 16 September 1989, following a first meeting in Helsinki, May 1989. Since then, it has undergone eight revisions.

As a result of the international agreement, the ozone hole in Antarctica is slowly recovering. Climate projections indicate that the ozone layer will return to 1980 levels between 2050 and 2070. Due to its widespread adoption and implementation it has been hailed as an example of exceptional international co-operation.

Terms and purposes

The treaty is structured around several groups of halogenated hydrocarbons that deplete stratospheric ozone. All of the ozone depleting substances controlled by the Montreal Protocol contain either chlorine or bromine (substances containing only fluorine do not harm the ozone layer). Some ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) are not yet controlled by the Montreal Protocol, including nitrous oxide (N2O).

For each group of ODSs, the treaty provides a timetable on which the production of those substances must be shot out and eventually eliminated. This included a 10-year phase-in for developing countries (such as India) identified in Article 5 of the treaty. Under this Protocol the first concrete step to save the Ozone layer was taken by immediately agreeing to completely phase out chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), Halons, Carbon tetrachloride (CTC) and Methyl chloroform (MCF) as per a given schedule.

The urgency of controlling the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) particularly CFCs was slow to pick up. CFCs were so useful that society and the industry were reluctant to give up consuming them. However, even as the nations adopted the Montreal Protocol in 1987, new scientific findings indicated that the Protocol’s control measures were inadequate to restore the ozone layer. In addition, the developing countries had a special situation as they needed the technology of substitutes as well as financial assistance to enable them to change over to non ODS substances.

Meanwhile, the report of the scientific panels entrusted with the task of finding the extent of ozone depletion showed that the actual harm to the ozone layer was much more than predicted by theoretical models and the control measures envisaged by the Protocol in 1987 would not stop the process. More urgent action was therefore necessary. Therefore, at the 2nd meeting of the Parties in London in 1990, 54 Parties as well as 42 non-Party countries agreed on a package of measures satisfactory to all. It was agreed in this meeting that the 5 important CFCs and Halons would be phased out by the year 2000 and other minor CFCs and CTC would be controlled and eventually phased out. A special provision was made to fund the developing countries with an annual consumption of ODS of less than 0.3 kg per Capita (also called as Article 5 countries) in their efforts to phase out these harmful chemicals. These countries were also given a grace period of 10 years to phase out ODS.

In 1991, more alarming reports came up to show that the depletion of ozone is continuing in all altitudes except over the tropics. It was recognized that it is not enough to control emissions of CFCs and Halons. Other fluorocarbon chemicals like Hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and Methyl bromide, which are also ozone depleting need to be controlled. They have also been brought under the ambit of the Protocol in 1992.

India’s Commitment to the Montreal Protocol

India signed the Montreal Protocol on 17.9.92. India’s per capita consumption of Ozone Depleting Substances is at present less than 3 grams and did not cross 20 gms between 1995-97 as against 300 gms permitted under the Protocol. India is self sufficient in production of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

India mainly produced and used seven of the 20 substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol. These are CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC- 113, Halon-1211, Halon-1301, Carbon tetrachloride, Methyl Chloroform and Methyl Bromide. India prepared a detailed Country Programme (CP) to phaseout ODS in accordance with its national industrial development strategy in 1993. The objectives of the CP were to phaseout ODS without undue economic burden to both consumers and industry manufacturing equipment using ODSs and provided India with an opportunity to access the Protocol’s Financial Mechanism. The other objectives of the Country Programme also include minimisation of economic dislocation as a result of conversion to non-ODS technology, maximisation of indigenous production, preference to one time replacement, emphasis on decentralised management and minimisation of obsolescence.

The Government of India has entrusted the work relating to ozone layer protection and implementation of the Montreal Protocol to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF). The MOEF has set up an Ozone Cell as a national unit to look after and to render necessary services to implement the Protocol and its ODS phaseout programme in India. The MOEF has also established an Empowered Steering Committee, which is supported by four Standing Committees, namely the Technology and Finance Standing Committee, Standing Committee for Small Scale, Tiny and Unorganised industries, Standing Committee on Implementation of ODS phaseout projects and Monitoring and Evaluation Committee. The Empowered Steering Committee is responsible for the implementation of the Montreal Protocol provisions, review of various policy and implementation options, project approvals and project monitoring.

Current Situation

Although these miracle chemicals have been used in large scale in the developed countries since 1930s, India was slow to derive benefits from their use. The early use of these chemicals, in India, was in refrigerators and CFC-12 needed for servicing was imported. The use of CFC in refrigeration industry can be traced back to the 1960s. Other industries using CFCs such as foam blowing industry, aerosol industry etc., have developed only during the last 15 to 20 years in India. With the availability of CFC-11 and 12 from indigenous production, the growth of these industries consuming CFCs increased very rapidly.

Use of ODS as solvents is estimated to account for the maximum consumption, both in ODS as well as Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) terms. Refrigeration & Air-conditioning and Foam are next large user sectors, followed by Aerosol. The consumption of ODS in fire extinguisher sector has considerably decreased over the years because of switch over to non-ODS technology by enterprises consuming large quantities of halons.

Results are also visible in the medical sector. India produces and exports millions of metered dose inhalers each year, providing relief to countless people suffering from asthma. With UNDP support, manufacturers of metered dose inhalers have completely transitioned to ozone-friendly and affordable alternatives, demonstrating the potential for environment-friendly public health management in the country. The country is now focusing attention on phasing out such chemicals in foam, refrigeration and halon sector. As a next step, UNDP is supporting the Government of India in phasing out (HCFCs) by 2030, as part of the country’s commitment to the Montreal Protocol.