Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

On behalf of the United States of America I wish to express the deep gratitude of my delegation and my government to the government and people of India for hosting the 18th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and for all of the courtesies and support they have extended to the delegates this week to facilitate a successful outcome. We are deeply honored that Prime Minister Singh found time in his schedule to greet us, and we take his presence as a clear sign of India 's commitment to our common effort. We are also struck by the wisdom and pragmatism of his remarks this morning and hope that all delegations will bear them in mind as we seek to complete our work in the next two days.

Next year – 2007 – will mark the 20 th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol. It is thus appropriate for the Parties to take stock of how far they have come in seeking to protect our Earth's stratospheric ozone layer and of how far they have yet to go until we can declare that this grave threat to our peoples and our planet has been resolved. While we have come a long way, the struggle is not over. Moreover, our very success challenges us further -- many now incorrectly believe that the battle is won and they are inclined to turn to other priorities.

In reviewing the WMO/UNEP “Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2006,” and in listening this morning to the report of the Scientific Assessment Panel so ably and clearly presented by Dr. Ravishankara, I was reminded of Charles Dickens' Tale of Two Cities . One phrase in particular comes to mind,“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

I do not suggest that today we are in the worst of times. Indeed, the 2006 Scientific Assessment clearly states that, “The Montreal Protocol is working: There is clear evidence of a decrease in the atmospheric burden of ozone-depleting substances and some early signs of stratospheric ozone recovery.” The assessment notes specifically that:

• Abundances of ozone-depleting substances, taken together, are clearly decreasing in the lower atmosphere. Nearly all the abundances of individual ozone-depleting substances are also decreasing.

• There are clear indications that the equivalent effective stratospheric chlorine (which is a standardized measure of ozone-depleting capacity of bromine and chlorine in the stratosphere) has also started to decrease.

• In the last decade, the depletion of the global ozone layer has not worsened.

• Measurements from some unpolluted locations show that ultra violet radiation has decreased since the late 1990s, in accordance with observed ozone increases at those sites.

Nor do I suggest, however, that this is the best of times. The 2006 Scientific

Assessment also makes clear that:

• Long-term recovery of the ozone layer from the effects of ozone-depleting substances is expected to span much of the 21 st century and is estimated to occur later than projected in the previous assessment (2002).

• The date when equivalent effective stratospheric chlorine at mid-latitudes returns to pre-1980 levels is now calculated to be 2049, for the case of global compliance with the Montreal Protocol with no significant exceptions. This date is about five years later than projected in the previous (2002) assessment.

• This projected later date primarily results from (1) an increase in CFC-11 and CFC-12 emissions due to the larger recent estimates of amounts currently contained in equipment and products (banks) and (2) an increase in HCFC-22 emissions due to larger estimated future production, as reported in the 2005 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change/Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (IPCC/TEAP) Special Report on Safeguarding the Ozone Layer and the Global Climate System: Issues related to Hydrofluorocarbons and Perfluorocarbons.

• The return to pre-1980 conditions of equivalent effective stratospheric chlorine for the Antarctic vortex is projected to occur around 2065, more than 15 years later than the return of mid-latitude equivalent effective stratospheric chlorine to pre-1980 levels.

Still, as noted by Dr. Ravishankara this morning, this change in the projected date for recovery of the ozone layer is simply or mostly due to better understanding of how the atmosphere works. It is clear that we, the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, have accomplished much. But it is equally clear that we still have work to do. It is not at all extraordinary that the Parties to the Montreal Protocol have dealt with difficult challenges before – it is most extraordinary that they have been able to surmount all of them.

In moving forward, it is important to note the pragmatism that has always guided the efforts of the Parties to solve the problems before them, pragmatism that is needed no less today than it was needed nearly 20 years ago, and pragmatism that will be needed in the next two days no less than it was needed in the last few years.

The Parties have always successfully been able to balance the needs of the stratospheric ozone layer with the needs of people who as yet have no recourse to alternatives that are technically and economically feasible. And despite the frequently different expert views and opinions that are often expressed with respect to these issues, the Parties have always been able to find the right way forward. Let us be guided by the wisdom and pragmatism so aptly and cogently stated this morning by Prime Minister Singh as we seek to do so once again.