“We are working harder than ever to keep the beacon of global cooperation shining,” exclaimed Megumi Seki, Executive Secretary of the Ozone Secretariat, at the opening of the preparatory segment of the thirty-seventh Meeting of the Parties (MOP 37) to the Montreal Protocol in Nairobi, Kenya. Seki highlighted key issues before the MOP, including the terms of reference (ToR) for the study on the 2027‒2029 replenishment of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol (MLF). She also reminded participants that science remains the backbone of the Ozone Treaties’ success, and that closing the gaps in atmospheric monitoring is a big step needed in that regard.
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Delegates observed a moment of silence in memory of Cornelius Rhein (EU), noting his professionalism, warm enthusiasm, and unwavering commitment.
During the first day of the preparatory segment, delegates showed determination to deal with the substantive items on the agenda collaboratively and efficiently. Under the leadership of Co-Chairs Shontelle Wellington (Barbados) and Annie Gabriel (Australia), delegates adopted the agenda and established a budget committee. During the day, they introduced the first six agenda items, including on organizational and administrative matters, hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-23 emissions, the ToR for the 2027-2029 MLF replenishment study, and atmospheric monitoring. The plenary also established a contact group on the ToR.
Like at previous meetings, a major focus was the presentations on most recent insights into HFC-23 emissions delivered by the Scientific Assessment Panel (SAP) and the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP), and deliberations by delegates on how to address them. The SAP and TEAP provided updates on atmospheric abundance of HFC-23, noting significant discrepancies between reporting-based and atmosphere-derived estimates of HFC-23 emissions, and a substantial shortfall in their understanding of global HFC-23 emissions.
In the afternoon, delegates heard a presentation by the Ozone Secretariat and the Advisory Committee of the General Trust Fund for Financing Activities on Research and Systematic Observations Relevant to the Vienna Convention on progress on enhancing regional atmospheric monitoring of controlled substances. In the ensuing discussion, delegates raised questions about criteria for selecting potential monitoring sites, including accessibility and existing infrastructure; an online tool to estimate costs for establishing and operating such sites; funding sources; and the identification of suitable partners and collaboration with existing monitoring programs.
In the evening, a contact group on the ToR for the 2027–2029 MLF replenishment study met, co-chaired by Ralph Brieskorn (the Netherlands) and Azra Rogović-Grubić (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
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All ENB photos are free to use with attribution. For the Montreal Protocol MOP37, please use: Photo by IISD/ENB | Danny Skilton.
Plenary
Delegates observe a moment of silence in memory of Cornelius Rhein (EU)
Annie Gabriel, Australia, Preparatory Segment and OEWG Co-Chair
John Thompson, US
Haijun Chen, China
Hazem Shabat, Palestine
Mathatela Ntsatsi, Lesotho
Sergey Vasiliev, Russian Federation
Sophia Mylona, Ozone Secretariat
The Kenyan delegation
Mattan Gilboa, Israel
Isabel Airas and Kirsten Orschulok, GIZ Proklima
Contact Group
Contact group Co-Chairs Ralph Brieskorn, the Netherlands, and Azra Rogović-Grubić, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Around the venue
The bell is rung to signal the start of the afternoon session
