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♤ Vienna convention adopted in the year 1985 and entered into force in 1988.
♤ It acts as a framework for the international efforts to protect the ozone layer however it does not include legally binding reduction goals for the use of CFCs.
♤ The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and its Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer are dedicated to the protection of the earth’s ozone layer. With 197 parties, they are the most widely ratified treaties in United Nations history.
Montreal Protocol
♤ The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was designed to reduce the production and consumption of ozone depleting substances in order to reduce their abundance in the atmosphere, and thereby protect the earth’s fragile ozone Layer.
♤ The treaty was opened for signature on September 16, 1987, and entered into force on January 1, 1989, followed by a first meeting in Helsinki, May 1989. Since then, it has undergone seven revisions, in 1990 (London), 1991 (Nairobi), 1992 (Copenhagen), 1993 (Bangkok), 1995 (Vienna), 1997 (Montreal), and 1999 (Beijing).
India and Protection of Ozone Layer
♤ India became a Party to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of Ozone Layer on 19 June 1991 and the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer on 17 September 1992.
♤ Consequently, it ratified the Copenhagen, Montreal and Beijing Amendments in 2003.
♤ India produces CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC-113, Halon-1211, HCFC-22, Halon-1301, Carbontetrachloride (CTC), methyl chloroform and methyl bromide. These ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) are used in refrigeration and air conditioning, fire fighting, electronics, foams,aerosol fumigation applications.
♤ A detailed India Country Programme for phase out of ODS was prepared in 1993 to ensure the phase out of ODS according to the national industrial development strategy, without undue burden to the consumers and the industry and for accessing the Protocol’s Financial Mechanism in accordance with the requirements stipulated in the Montreal Protocol.
♤ The Ministry of Environment and Forests established an Ozone Cell and a steering committee on the Montreal Protocol to facilitate implementation of the India Country Programme for phasing out ODS (ozone depleting substances) production by 2010.
♤ In order to meet the objectives of the Protocol, the Indian government has granted full exemption from payment of Customs and Central Excise Duties on import of goods designed exclusively for non-ODS technology.
♤ India has also been facilitating implementation of the Montreal Protocol in South and South East Asia and the Pacific regions.