BharatNotes
Montreal Protocol
/ˌmɒntriˈɔːl ˈproʊtəkɒl/An international treaty adopted on 16 September 1987 under the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, committing its 198 parties to the progressive phase-out of ozone-depleting substances (CFCs, HCFCs, halons, carbon tetrachloride, and others) through legally binding schedules with differentiated timelines for developed and developing countries -- widely regarded as the most successful multilateral environmental agreement in history, having achieved 99% ODS phase-out and averted the collapse of the ozone layer.
Context & Background
The Montreal Protocol is the first treaty to achieve universal ratification; it established the Multilateral Fund (1991) to assist developing countries; its Kigali Amendment (2016) expanded the treaty's scope to phase down HFCs, linking ozone protection to climate change mitigation; ozone recovery is on track, with full healing expected by 2040 (global) to 2066 (Antarctic).
UPSC Exam Relevance
GS3 (Environment). Prelims: 1987, universal ratification, 99% ODS phased out, ozone recovery timeline. Mains: Montreal Protocol as a model for international environmental cooperation; why was it more successful than climate negotiations? Discuss the Kigali Amendment's significance for climate change mitigation.
