About
Parties are preparing the next replenishment of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol against a backdrop of global financial turmoil.
Three years ago, Parties agreed on a historic replenishment of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol (MLF) for 2024–2026 with a triennial budget just shy of USD 1 billion. This year, Parties are preparing the next MLF replenishment for 2027–2029 and many wonder: will the current financial strain at both the multilateral and national levels allow for another substantial triennial budget to help protect both the Earth’s ozone layer and its climate?
Under the Vienna Convention and its Montreal Protocol, the MLF funding is supporting Parties in phasing out both the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and in phasing down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), potent greenhouse gases that had replaced certain ODS in refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
The protection of the stratospheric ozone layer is an absolute necessity as it protects humanity and its environment from dangerous levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Without the ozone layer, skin cancer, eye cataracts and immune deficiencies would be widespread and both terrestrial and aquatic life would be impacted.
The international community adopted the Montreal Protocol 39 years ago and is approaching the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Kigali Amendment which extended the Protocol to include HFCs. To mark the occasion, the Thirty-Eighth Meeting of the Parties (MOP38) will be held in Kigali (Rwanda) in November 2026, and the work of the forty-eighth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (OEWG48) will form the basis of the decisions to be taken there.
Despite the much-quoted success of both the Convention and the Protocol, there is more work to do to protect the ozone layer and our climate. There are three main tasks the ‘ozone family’ is currently focused on:
- enhancing atmospheric monitoring to inform decision making;
- improving action on controlled substances to find alternatives, avoid leaks, and address illegal trade; and
- investigating whether further substances should be controlled.
OEWG48 will consider the scientific and technical work that underpins all action under the Protocol, compiled by its Assessment Panels. It is the first meeting since the 37th Meeting of the Parties (MOP) in November 2025 and features the following main agenda items:
- 2027–2029 MLF replenishment;
- halon 1301 and its continuing use in the aviation industry, and management of other controlled substances used for fire suppression;
- metered-dose inhalers with low-global-warming-potential propellants;
- options for the organization of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) and its technical options committees;
- changes in the membership of the TEAP;
- enhancing regional atmospheric monitoring of controlled substances;
- ensuring the viability of Montreal Protocol operations;
- further strengthening Montreal Protocol institutions;
- status of preparations for MOP38.
OEWG48 will convene from 13 to 17 July 2026 at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand.
On Tuesday, 14 July, the Sixth Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol will convene to elect members of the Implementation Committee under the Non-Compliance Procedure for the Montreal Protocol for 2026. Due to a dispute on the nomination of the member from the Eastern European Group, MOP 37 was unable to complete the necessary elections and requested an Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties to conclude this work.
The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writers for this meeting are Kaspar Sollberger, Ph.D.; Pamela Chasek, Ph.D; and Noémie Laurens, Ph.D. The Digital Editor is Danny Skilton. The Editors are Chris Spence and Pamela Chasek, Ph.D.
View past and future events
Past event
Vienna Convention COP 5 and Montreal Protocol MOP 11
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20th Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
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Montreal Protocol MOP 12
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Montreal Protocol MOP 13
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22nd Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
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Vienna Convention COP 6 and Montreal Protocol MOP 14
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Montreal Protocol MOP 15
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1st Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (ExMOP-1)
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Montreal Protocol MOP 16
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25th Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties and 2nd Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (ExMOP-2)
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Vienna Convention COP 7 and Montreal Protocol MOP 17
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26th Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
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Montreal Protocol MOP 18
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Montreal Protocol MOP 19
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Viena Convention COP 8 and Montreal Protocol MOP 20
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29th Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
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Montreal Protocol MOP 21
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Montreal Protocol MOP 22
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31st Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
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Vienna Convention COP 9 and Montreal Protocol MOP 23
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32nd Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
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Montreal Protocol MOP 24
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33rd Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
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Montreal Protocol MOP 25
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34th Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
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Vienna Convention COP 10 and Montreal Protocol MOP 26
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Workshop on Hydrofluorocarbon Management and 35th Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
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36th Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
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Resumed 36th Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
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Montreal Protocol MOP 27
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37th Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
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3rd Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (ExMOP 3) and Associated Meetings
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Montreal Protocol MOP 28
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39th Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
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Vienna Convention COP 11 and Montreal Protocol MOP 29
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Workshop on Energy Efficiency Opportunities While Phasing-Down Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and 40th Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
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30th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
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41st Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (OEWG 41)
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31st Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MOP 31)
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42nd Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (OEWG 42)
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12th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention (Part I) and 32nd Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
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4th Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (ExMOP-4) and 1st Part of the 43rd Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG43)
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2nd Part of the 43rd Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (OEWG 43)
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Combined 12th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention (Part II) and 33rd Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
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44th Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (OEWG-44) and 5th Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (ExMOP-5)
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34th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MOP34)
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45th Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
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35th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MOP35)
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46th Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
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13th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (COP13) and 36th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MOP36)
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47th Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
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37th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MOP37)
Upcoming event
48th Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
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