Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer

  • The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was adopted in 1985 and entered into force on 22 Sep 1988. In 2009, the Vienna Convention became the first Convention of any kind to achieve universal ratification. The objectives of the Convention were for Parties to promote cooperation by means of systematic observations, research and information exchange on the effects of human activities on the ozone layer and to adopt legislative or administrative measures against activities likely to have adverse effects on the ozone layer.
  • The Vienna Convention did not require countries to take concrete actions to control ozone-depleting substances. Instead, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention, the countries of the world agreed the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer under the Convention to advance that goal.
  • The Parties to the Vienna Convention meet once every three years, back to back with the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, in order to take decisions designed to administer the Convention.

The Vienna Convention has two trust funds:

  • Trust Fund for the Vienna Convention: Provides financial support to the Convention, including the operations of the Ozone Secretariat (jointly with the Trust Fund for the Montreal Protocol), and the organizational costs of the meetings of the Conference of the Parties along with provision of support to developing countries and countries with economies in transition to participate in the meetings.
  • Trust Fund for Research and Systematic Observation: Funds certain research and observation activities related to the Vienna Convention in developing countries and countries with economies in transition.

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