"Montreal protocol" Under construction

In 1977 UNEP ¹ first created the Co-ordinating Committee on the Ozone Layer. Over time, in an effort lead largely by the Swedes and their scandanavian brethen a global convention to ban non-essential CFCs was drafted, and in 1985 the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was signed. This acknowledged the need to implement control measures over the use of CFC, and stated that a protocol for implementing these measures should be discussed over the next two years. This eventually led to the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer by 24 countries on September 16, 1987.

The Protocol came into effect on January 1st, 1989, with each country agreeing to freeze production of CFCs and halons within seven months, and to reduce consumption of CFCs by 50% in 10 years, with the developing countries being given a 10 year grace peroid.

The Protocol also called for re-assement every four years, in order to encapsulate all ozone depleteing substances.

Since then the number of countries who have ratified the Protocol has risen to include 163 states, and x different substances.

----timebomb - cfcs just waiting to rise up into stratosphere ---