Proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion of the agreement to amend the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer adopted in Kigali

The proposal is for a Council Decision on the conclusion on behalf of the European Union, of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer. The European Union had previously approved the Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer, the Montreal Protocol and the four previous amendments to the Protocol.

At the 28th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, which took place from 10 to 15 October 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda, the text of an amendment was adopted, adding a step-wise reduction of the consumption and production of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to the control measures of the Montreal Protocol in view of reducing the contribution of these substance to climate change. Although not ozone depleting, these greenhouse gases were mainly introduced to replace ozone depleting substances that are phased out under the Montreal Protocol.

The Kigali Amendment will enter into force on 1 January 2019, provided that at least 20 parties have deposited their instruments of ratification. However, to underline the European Union's commitment to the amendment and to encourage developing countries to take early action, an early approval should be envisaged, also in view of the intention of other major parties to ratify as early as possible.

EUR-Lex: COM(2017)51: Follow the progress of this proposal through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2017:051:FIN

ESO: Background information: Using the Montreal Protocol for climate action http://www.europeansources.info/record/using-the-montreal-protocol-for-climate-action/

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