Montreal Protocol OEWG Advances on Draft Decisions for MOP 36

TAIWO ISRAEL OPEYEMI

At the 46th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (OEWG 46), delegates relied on scientific expertise in advancing work on the draft decisions that will be discussed further at the 36th Meeting of the Parties (MOP 36) in October 2024.

Reports by the Protocol’s Scientific Assessment Panel, Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, and Technology and Economic Assessment Panel informed the deliberations.

According to the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) summary report of the meeting, underpinning the actions of the parties in this process are scientific assessments that “enable them to respond to new and emerging challenges to the health of the ozone layer.”

Delegates made progress on draft decisions relating to:

• Further strengthening Montreal Protocol institutions by addressing illegal trade;
• Avoiding unwanted imports of energy inefficient products and equipment;
• The need for additional information on very short-lived substances;
• Feedstock uses of controlled substances;
• Measures to support the sustainable management of recovered, recycled, or reclaimed halons;
• Measures to facilitate the transition to metered-dose inhalers with low-global-warming-potential (GWP) propellants or other alternative products;
• Enhancing regional atmospheric monitoring of controlled substances;
• A possible compliance deferral for Article 5, group 2 parties, related to access to climate-friendly cooling and refrigeration equipment; and
• Strengthening the enabling environment to enhance energy efficiency in the cooling sector while implementing the Kigali Amendment.

Having phased out the worst ozone depleting substances (ODS), the Montreal Protocol addresses climate-warming hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) through its Kigali Amendment. It is estimated that the decline in ODS emissions due to the Protocol will have avoided global warming of around 0.5-1°C by 2050, the ENB analysis of the meeting notes. At OEWG 46, discussion on how best to report on emissions from HFCs was deferred to MOP 36.

Delegates decided against further discussions on additional funding to support countries seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic at MOP 36 as this issue “did not have the support of most parties.”

The ENB summary report highlights that the wide range of issues considered during the meeting “pointed to reflections on the continued health of the Montreal Protocol.” Discussions initiated at OEWG 46, it notes, promise a robust debate at MOP 36, “with the end goal of ensuring the continued health of the ozone layer, people, and planet.”

OEWG 46 convened in Montreal, Canada, from 8-12 July 2024. Preceding the meeting was a one-day workshop presented by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), which addressed among other issues, lifecycle refrigerant management.