Freezing production of ozone-depleting substances

The Montreal Protocol for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was established in 1987 and to date more than 160 countries have signed up to the initial agreement. The Protocol has been amended in 1990, 1992, 1997 and 1999 in Beijing, including more substances and advancing the phaseout schedules. As a result of the Protocol and its amendments, the ozone layer is expected to recover slowly within the next 50 years. The duration of the maximum ozone depletion and the speed of the recovery is however dependent on full compliance and on all Parties signing up to the amendments.

The Parties to the Montreal Protocol, who met in Beijing, China, from 29 November to 3 December 1999, agreed to freeze the production of HCFCs (hdrochlorofluorocarbons) for developed countries in 2004 and developing countries in 2016. HCFCs are widely used in refrigeration and foam blowing operations.