Montréal Protocol

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International agreement, signed in 1987, to stop the production of chemicals that are ozone depleters by the year 2000.

Originally the agreement was to reduce the production of ozone depleters by 35% by 1999. The green movement criticized the agreement as inadequate, arguing that an 85% reduction in ozone depleters would be necessary just to stabilize the ozone layer at 1987 levels. The protocol (under the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer) was reviewed in 1992. Amendments added another 11 chemicals to the original list of eight chemicals suspected of harming the ozone layer. A controversial amendment concerns a fund established to pay for the transfer of ozone-safe technology to poor countries.

Blue stands for the night sky and for water as a source of life. White represents peace. Red indicates the life-force. Green recalls nature and fertility. Effective date: 11 October 1991. >>