Stronger measures to protect ozone layer.

• Position: Includes other environmental topics in which the UN is involved

Some 110 Governments, meeting in Vienna from 28 November to 7 December, agreed to new commitments to strengthen the 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The most significant part of the agreement was the decision by industrialized countries to phase out methyl bromide by the year 2010.

Those countries, which account for some 80 per cent of the worldwide use of methyl bromide, had earlier agreed only to a freeze by 1995, making methyl bromide the most powerful ozone-depleting substance not previously subject to a phaseout. Developing countries, which previously faced no controls at all, agreed to a freeze by 2002 at average 1995-1998 levels.

New and tighter controls will also be introduced on hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which will be mostly phased out by industrialized countries by 2020 instead of 2030. Developing countries, which have not had any HCFC controls before, agreed to a freeze for the year 2016 (on the basis of consumption levels in 2015) and to a phaseout as of 2040. HCFCs are used as a replacement for CFCs, which, although much less dangerous, too deplete the ozone layer.

Methyl bromide was a difficult issue because its use as a fumigant for export commodities and soils for certain crops makes it economically important. Some 70,000 tons are produced every year. A number of countries argued that the remaining scientific, technical and economic uncertainties should be resolved, and substitutes clearly identified before the chemical was controlled. Others argued that alternatives were available for almost all uses, as demonstrated by the Netherlands, which had almost completely phased out its consumption of methyl bromide.

An important contribution to the willingness of developing countries to accept the new commitments was agreement that any new control measures for developing countries would require technology transfers and additional funding from industrialized countries. The multilateral fund that supports projects in developing countries has so far received $438 million since its establishment in 1991. The exact size of contributions to replenish it after 1996 will be discussed at next year's meeting.

"Governments must now maintain the momentum by honouring their commitments to control ozone-depleting chemicals and contribute financing", Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), told delegates on 7 December. "We cannot afford to rest on our laurels. The...