Scribd
Upload
79 views

The Montreal Protocol Handout

The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty signed in 1987 that regulates production of chemicals that deplete the ozone layer, such as chlorofluorocarbons. It was prompted by research in the 1970s showing that CFCs were destroying stratospheric ozone. The protocol has been amended over time to phase out additional substances threatening the ozone layer. With nearly universal compliance, scientists credit the protocol for substantially decreasing ozone-depleting chemicals and expect full ozone layer recovery by 2049.

Uploaded by

Anusha Singh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
79 views

The Montreal Protocol Handout

The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty signed in 1987 that regulates production of chemicals that deplete the ozone layer, such as chlorofluorocarbons. It was prompted by research in the 1970s showing that CFCs were destroying stratospheric ozone. The protocol has been amended over time to phase out additional substances threatening the ozone layer. With nearly universal compliance, scientists credit the protocol for substantially decreasing ozone-depleting chemicals and expect full ozone layer recovery by 2049.

Uploaded by

Anusha Singh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

The Montreal Protocol.

What is the Montreal protocol:

The Montreal Protocol, was previously known as the Montreal Protocol on


Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer, international treaty. It was first
adopted in Montreal on September 16th, 1987 and its main focus was to regulate
the production and use of chemicals that contribute to the depletion of the Earths
ozone layer eg. Chlorofluorocarbon. It was initially signed by 46 countries and now
the treaty has nearly 200 signatories.

Why the protocol came into effect:

In the early 1970s, chemists F. Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina theorised
chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) compounds combine with solar radiation and decompose in
the stratosphere, releasing atoms of chlorine and chlorine monoxide which are
individually able to destroy large numbers of ozone molecules. Their research,
initiated a federal investigation of the problem, and the National Academy of
Sciences concurred with their findings in 1976 and so inn 1978 CFC-based aerosols
were banned in the United States, Norway, Sweden, and Canada.

The initial agreement was designed to reduce the production and the use of several
types of CFCs and halons. The protocol went into effect on January 1, 1989. Since
then the agreement has been amended to further reduce and completely phase out
CFCs and halons in the atmosphere , as well as the production and use of:

-Carbon tetrachloride

-Trichloroethane

-Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

-Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)

-Hydro bromofluorocarbons (HBFCs)

-Methyl bromide
Several subsequent meetings of the signing countries were convened to track the
overall progress toward this goal and to authorize new changes to the process of
phasing out Ozone depleting compounds (ODCs).

The success of the Montreal protocol:

Scientists note that the success of the treaty is exclusively responsible for the
substantial decrease of ODCs available for release into the atmosphere. Signs of
recovery might not become apparent until about 2020, because of natural
variability. According to the World Meteorological Organisation and the UNEP, the
full recovery of the ozone layer is not expected until at least 2049.

Some of the many signatory countries:

-All countries in the United Nations

-The Cook Islands

-The supranational European Union

-South Sudan being the

-London

-Copenhagen

-Montreal

-Beijing amendments

Veermala Katwaroo & Anusha Singh.

You might also like