Protecting the ozone layer is one of the world’s greatest environmental achievements but sustaining this progress requires a new, more integrated approach. Through the Montreal Protocol, nearly 99% of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) have been phased out, placing the ozone layer on a path to recovery. However, many of these substances remain in products, equipment, and waste streams, where they can still be released if not properly managed, posing ongoing risks to the environment and human health.
This study examines how these challenges can be addressed through stronger interlinkages between the Montreal Protocol and the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. Together, these agreements regulate different stages of the lifecycle of hazardous chemicals from production and use to trade and disposal but are not yet fully coordinated in practice. The report analyses areas of overlap and cooperation, highlighting key issues such as the management of refrigerants and e-waste, enforcement challenges including illegal trade, and emerging risks linked to hazardous substances.
By identifying practical opportunities for enhanced cooperation such as integrated policy approaches, strengthened enforcement, and improved capacity-building the study provides a forward-looking framework for more effective implementation at the national and global levels. It underscores a central message: protecting the ozone layer today depends not only on eliminating harmful substances, but on managing them safely throughout their entire lifecycle through coordinated global action.
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