The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer
The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer is often called a framework convention, because it served as a framework for efforts to protect the globe’s ozone layer. The Vienna Convention 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.
- Text of the Vienna Convention
- Final Act of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Protection of the Ozone Layer
- Decisions of Conferences of Parties to the Vienna Convention - The Conference of the Parties established under Article 6 of the Convention meets once every three years (once every two years until 1993) to review the implementation of the Convention by adopting various decisions.
- Rules of Procedure for meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention (decision VCI/1, adopted pursuant to Article 6, paragraph 3 of the Convention);
- Terms of reference for the Administration of Trust Funds for the Vienna Convention (decision VCI/9, adopted pursuant to Article 6, paragraph 3 of the Convention);
- Arbitration Procedure (decision VCI/7, adopted pursuant to Article 11, paragraph 3(a) of the Convention).
