Vienna in Austria is a city of international conventions. The city’s name is attached to several prominent international treaties on a multitude of subjects ranging from the interpretation of international law, diplomacy, and war, to economy, environment, and nuclear safeguards.
However, this article is limited to the analysis of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer 1985. Read this on till the end to learn more.
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer 1985
As the name suggests, the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer 1985 is an international convention aimed at protecting the ozone layer of the earth’s atmosphere that filters the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun before they enter the earth’s atmosphere.
Direct exposure to ultraviolet rays of the sun is known to cause various serious ailments including skin cancer. Besides, it has a cascading effect on the health and well-being of climate and biodiversity in general.
Thus, the Vienna Convention provides an international framework and mechanism to protect the ozone layer by limiting the use, production, and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (hereinafter ODS).
In which year did the Vienna convention come into Force?
The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was signed in 1985 and it came into force in 1988. As of January 2022, it has been ratified by 198 countries.
It was a result of the collective efforts of international organizations like UN and WMO and climate activists who succeeded in rallying the global opinion towards the cause of safeguarding the ozone layer.
Is it a legally binding treaty?
No, the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer 1985 is not a legally binding treaty.
Yet, it has been regarded as one of the most successful international conventions of all time both in terms of its membership reach and fulfillment of its aims. It is the first universally ratified treaty in the history of the United Nations.
Due to the efforts of this treaty, the production and use of ODFs have not only been significantly lowered all over the world but the depleted ozone layer in the northern hemisphere has also been recovered to a large extent.
What are Ozone Depleting Substances?
Chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs are the most potent Ozone-depleting substances. CFCs are CFCs are a group of man-made compounds containing chlorine, fluorine, and carbon. They are colorless, volatile, non-toxic liquids and gases with a faintly sweet ethereal odor.
Because of their low toxicity, reactivity, and flammability, CFCs were widely used in refrigeration, aerosol propellants, foam manufacturing, and air conditioning.
Parties to the Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer agreed to phase out the production and use of CFCs after various scientific studies showed the cascading effects of CFCs on the ozone layer of the earth’s atmosphere.
What is the Governing Body of the Vienna Convention on Ozone Layer?
The Conference of the Parties (CoP) is the governing body of the Vienna Convention on the Ozone layer. With the help of the Ozone Secretariat in Vienna and other working groups and it takes all decisions pertaining to the convention. It meets every three years to deliberate on climate change measures.
Further, United Nations Secretary-General acts as a depositary of the Vienna Convention on the Ozone layer and all its subsequently agreed protocols.
If any country wants to accede to the convention or wants to withdraw from it then it has to submit its documentation to the secretary-general.
What is Ozone Secretariat?
Ozone Secretariat acts as an administrator of the conference of parties (COP). It is situated in Vienna, Austria.
As per Article 7 of the convention, international organizations that have signified their willingness to carry out the Secretariat functions under this Convention shall be designated as such.
The ozone secretariat discharges the following functions-
- Arrange for and service meetings provided for in Articles 6, 8, 9, and 10 of the convention.
- Prepare and transmit reports based upon information received in accordance with Articles 4 and 5, as well as upon information derived from meetings of subsidiary bodies established under Article 6;
- Perform the functions assigned to it by any protocol;
- Prepare reports on its activities carried out in implementation of its functions under this Convention and present them to the Conference of the Parties;
- Ensure the necessary co-ordination with other relevant international bodies, and in particular to enter into such administrative and contractual arrangements as may be required for the effective discharge of its functions;
- Perform such other functions as may be determined by the Conference of the Parties.
What is the Montreal Protocol to the Vienna Convention?
Article 8 of the Vienna convention empowers the Conference of the Parties to adopt additional protocols to protect human health and the environment against adverse effects resulting from modifications of the ozone layer.
Montreal Protocol is one such protocol agreed by parties to the Vienna convention in September 1987 and it entered into force on January 1, 1989.
It aimed to phase out the production and use of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) that were rapidly replacing CFCs.
What are Hydrochlorofluorocarbons?
As the name goes, Hydrochlorofluorocarbons are a group of man-made compounds containing hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, and carbon.
Their production began to take off after countries agreed to phase out the use of CFCs in light of the Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer in the late 1980s. Like CFCs, HCFCs are also used for refrigeration, aerosol propellants, foam manufacture, and air conditioning.
Though HCFCs were less damaging to the ozone layer compared to the more potent CFCs, they are nonetheless greenhouse gases with a high global warming potential. Thus the parties agreed to phase out even the HCFCs.
The Montreal Protocol to the Vienna convention has undergone many amendments since it was agreed in 1987 with the notable ones being the Nairobi amendment in 1991 and the Kigali amendment in 2016.
What is the Kigali Amendment to Monreal Protocol?
The Kigali Amendment to Monreal Protocol was agreed upon by parties to the Vienna convention in 2016. It came into force on January 1, 2019, with ratification by more than 65 countries.
Under the Kigali Amendment countries promised to reduce the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by more than 80% over the next 30 years.
Though HFCs pose no harm to the ozone layer because, unlike CFCs and HCFCs, they do not contain chlorine, they are still greenhouse gases with a high global warming potential.
India and the Vienna Convention on Ozone Layer
Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer fits well within the ambitious and progressive climate protection agenda of India.
India is a signatory to the Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer. In line with its commitments to the convention, has taken various measures to limit the production and use of ozone-depleting substances (ODS).
According to Ozone Secretariat data, India’s production and usage of ODS have declined significantly over the last few years.
For instance, in 2019, ODS production in India was over 1933 tonnes but in 2020 it has radically reduced to just 1354 tonnes.
Similarly, in line with Montreal Protocol to the Vienna Convention, India is also gradually phasing out the production and consumption of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).
India’s Ambitious Goals on Climate Protection
Despite being a developing country India has taken ambitious targets in support of global environmental goals as evident in its Nationally Determined Contributions for combating Climate Change under the Paris Agreement, ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol for phase down of Hydrofluorocarbons, restoration of 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and conserving 30% of land and oceans by 2030.
Further, India engaged constructively with all member states in the fifth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2) in 2022 to develop a consensus on the resolution for driving global action on plastic pollution.
India has also hosted the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in 2019 and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals in 2020.
At the same time, India has also emphasized the principles of climate justice and common but differentiated responsibilities when it comes to climate change commitments.