Resumed OEWG36 and 27th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol

The resumed session of the thirty-sixth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG 36) of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer opened on 29 October 2015 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Participants convened to hear opening statements from the Ozone Executive Secretary, Tina Birmpili and dealt with organizational matters.

Participants then suspended plenary to resume informal discussions, co-facilitated by Australia and Brazil, on a terms of reference for a contact group to discuss the feasibility and ways of managing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Plenary briefly resumed in the afternoon to hear a report from co-facilitators. Discussions then continued in the informal session until early evening, and will resume tomorrow.

The resumed session of the thirty-sixth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG 36) of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer convened for its final day on 30 October 2015 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Participants convened in plenary to hear a brief update on the previous day's discussions, noting that the remaining text dealt mostly with issues of finance. They then suspended plenary in order to resume discussions on the terms of reference (ToRs) for a contact group on hydrofluorocarbons’ (HFCs) management.

In the afternoon, a small group formed to finalize the wording on the finance text. The finance text was presented to and approved by the informal discussion group, thus completing the work on the ToRs. Plenary reconvened at 6:21 pm, where participants were presented with the ToRs as agreed by the informal discussions. Plenary adopted the ToRs and agreed to forward them to the Meeting of the Parties, which begins on Sunday, 1 November 2015.

Following the adoption of the report, the resumed session of OEWG 36 was closed at 6:34 pm.

The Preparatory Segment of the twenty-seventh Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (MOP 27) opened on Sunday, 1 November 2015, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). In the morning, delegates heard opening statements from dignitaries and discussed administrative matters, essential-use exemptions (EUEs), critical-use exemptions (CUEs), and the TEAP report on alternatives to ozone depleting substances (ODS), among other issues.

In the afternoon, delegates addressed, inter alia: the outcome of the resumed session of the thirty-sixth open-ended working group (OEWG 36); the proposed amendments to the Montreal Protocol; issues related to the phase-out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs); compliance and data reporting issues; potential areas of focus for the assessment panels’ 2018 quadrennial assessments; and other matters, including consideration of the transfer of funds and ODS disposal. The Budget Committee also met during the afternoon.

Side events also convened, including on: ozone depletion by hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and new scenarios for the 21st century; management of ODS in fisheries; hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) intellectual property; and sustainable cold chains.

The Preparatory Segment of MOP 27 reconvened on Monday, 2 November 2015, in Dubai, UAE. In the morning, delegates met for a brief stock-taking plenary session, including hearing updates on discussions with regards to membership of Montreal Protocol bodies, EUEs and CUEs, the TEAP report on ODS alternatives, financial reports and budgets, and TEAP financial matters.

The contact group on the feasibility and ways of managing HFCs met for its second day of discussions and continued throughout the day. The budget committee and informal groups on ODS releases from production processes, and the assessment panels’ quadrennial assessments met in the afternoon. The informal group on TEAP finance met in the evening.

Side events that took place, included: Introducing hydrocarbons and improving insulation in the refrigerated transport sector in South Africa; experience and preliminary results of early HFC surveys funded by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC); and refrigerator certification.

The Preparatory Segment of MOP 27 reconvened on Tuesday, 3 November 2015, in Dubai, UAE. Plenary convened for a stocktaking session in the morning and reconvened in the evening to hear updates on further progress. Delegates forwarded four draft decisions to the high-level segment (HLS) for adoption.

The contact group on the feasibility and ways of managing HFCs resumed its discussions in the morning and continued throughout the day. The budget committee and informal groups on ozone depleting substances ODS releases from production processes and the assessment panels’ quadrennial assessments met in the afternoon.

The penultimate day of the twenty-seventh Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (MOP 27) convened on Wednesday, 4 November 2015, in Dubai, UAE. The High-Level Segment opened in the morning, where delegates heard statements from, inter alia, Rashid Ahmed Mohammed Bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, UAE, and Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UN Environment Programme (UNEP). This was followed by a roundtable discussion on “How the institutions and mechanisms of the Montreal Protocol could assist parties in managing HFCs.” In the afternoon, delegates heard a presentation by the assessment panels on their synthesis of the 2014 quadrennial assessments, as well as statements from heads of delegation.

The budget committee and informal groups on the assessment panels’ quadrennial assessments, and the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) report on alternatives to ozone depleting substances (ODS) met over lunch. The contact group on the feasibility and ways of managing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) resumed its discussions in the afternoon.

Side events also convened, including on non-HFC cold chain, and the results of demonstrating refrigerant grade hydrocarbon production in a pilot project in Nigeria.

In the evening, delegates attended a reception hosted by the Government of the UAE.

The final day of the twenty-seventh Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (MOP 27) convened on Thursday, 5 November 2015, in Dubai, UAE. The Preparatory Segment met in plenary in the morning for a stocktaking session. The High-Level Segment (HLS) plenary met shortly thereafter to hear a presentation from the Chair of the Multilateral Fund (MLF) Executive Committee (ExCom) on the work of the MLF and its ExCom, as well as statements from heads of delegation.

The contact group on the feasibility and ways of managing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) convened immediately after the Preparatory Segment plenary and continued into the evening. The budget committee and informal groups on the assessment panels’ quadrennial assessments, and the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) report on alternatives to ozone depleting substances (ODS) met over lunch.

6:55 pm - The contact group on the feasibility and ways of managing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) have established a limited informal group to continue negotiations. Plenary is expected to reconvene at 7:30 pm.

10:15 pm - MOP 27 plenary has yet to reconvene.

01:31 am - MOP 27 Preparatory Segment plenary reconvenes.

02:05 am - MOP 27 Preparatory Segment plenary closes.  The High-Level Segment plenary resumes.

02:41 am - MOP 27 is closed.