Montreal Protocol
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was developed by the United Nations Environment Programme in 1987 and was intended to “protect human health and the environment against adverse effects resulting or likely to result from human activities which modify or are likely to modify the ozone layerâ€. What this means in practise is that all substances that deplete ozone must be phased out by the dates set out in the protocol, starting with the most damaging substances first as shown in the table below:
| Ozone Depleting Substance | Developed Countries | Developing Countries |
| Halons | Phased out end of 1993 | Total phase out by 2010 |
| Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) | Phased out end of 1995 | Total phase out by 2010 |
| Hydrobromofluorocarbons (HBFC’s) | Phased out end of 1995 | Phased out end of 1995 |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | Phased out end of 1995 | Total phase out by 2010 |
| Methyl Chloroform | Phased out end of 1995 | Total phase out by 2015 |
| Methyl Bromide | Freeze in 1995 at 1991 level25% reduction by 2001
50% reduction by 2005 Total phase out by 2010 |
Frozen at average 1995-98 level |
| Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC’s) | Freeze from beginning of 199635% reduction by 2004
65% reduction by 2010 90% reduction by 2015 Total phase out by 2020 |
Freeze in 2016 at 2015 levelTotal phase out by 2040 |