ENB @ ozone MOP-11/COP-5 (Beijing, Nov-Dec '99)

Eleventh Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol and Fifth Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention
Beijing, China; 29 November - 3 December 1999

The Eleventh Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and the Fifth Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (MOP-11/COP-5) met jointly in Beijing, China, from 29 November - 3 December 1999. Over 700 participants attended the meeting, which aimed to agree on further funding and additional steps to help reduce the consumption and production of ozone-depleting substances (ODS).
Participants met in a Preparatory Segment from 29 November - 1 December to consider proposed draft decisions, organizational and other matters. This was followed on 2-3 December by a High-level Segment for ministers and heads of delegations to present policy statements and adopt the draft decisions recommended during the Preparatory Segment. Delegates also met throughout the week in a number of closed working groups and informal consultations aimed at securing agreement on key issues. By the conclusion of MOP-11/COP-5, delegates had adopted 34 decisions on, inter alia: the replenishment of the Multilateral Fund for the triennium 2000-2002; new adjustments and a "Beijing Amendment" to the Montreal Protocol that tighten existing phase-out schedules and add new controls; and a "Beijing Declaration" reaffirming Parties' ongoing commitment to combating ozone depletion.
MOP-11/COP-5 finished with most delegates feeling the meeting had been largely successfully. This contrasted with statements of disappointment and despair from a number of environmental NGOs. The adoption of the Beijing Amendment and the Beijing Declaration were the substantive outcomes of the meeting, though some would argue that the substance behind these outcomes is rather limited.

Images and RealAudio of Friday, 3 December

STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS AND HEADS OF DELEGATIONS: The DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA (North Korea) noted that, in spite of success in reducing ODS consumption and production, further international action is required to protect the ozone layer.

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The EUROPEAN COMMISSION noted that all HCFCs will be banned in the EU by 2004, with minor exceptions, and expressed concern at the growing trend of HCFC use in developing countries.

GREENPEACE INTERNATIONAL reported that the European Space Agency had recently detected abnormally low levels of ozone over northern Europe, and warned that the world faced an "apocalyptic" future. He said he was alarmed that an accelerated ODS phase-out schedule had not been agreed at this meeting and that the chemical industry continued to promote the use of HFCs and HCFCs.

ALLIANCE FOR RESPONSIBLE ATMOSPHERIC POLICY, an industry coalition, stated that both HFCs and HCFCs are viable solutions to addressing ozone depletion. He supported the current controls on HCFCs in the Protocol, and said any acceleration of the phase-out period could be detrimental.

PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK expressed disappointment at the lack of concrete measures taken at MOP-11/COP-5 to advance controls on ODS, with methyl bromide a particular concern. She noted that QPS accounts for 20-23% of worldwide methyl bromide use yet is exempted by the Protocol. She called for, inter alia, a freeze of QPS use of methyl bromide, followed by a reduction.

Report of the Negotiating group on proposed adjustments and amendment to the Protocol:

CANADA said agreement had been reached in informal consultations on a further revised draft decision on new ozone depleting substances (UNEP/OzL.Pro.11/CRP.15/Rev.1).

MEXICO, reporting on progress in the working group on the proposed adjustments and amendment to QPS, reported that agreement had been reached to change the time period to 21 days, with the remainder of the decision unchanged.

Delegates in a huddle, discussing the freshly released replenishment fund figures

Co-Chair Uosukainen announces the decision on replenishment: a budget for 2000-2002 of US$477,700,000, with the understanding that US$35,700,000 of that sum will be provided by funds unallocated in 1997-1999; and a call on non-Article 5 Parties to make timely payments according to the fixed exchange rate mechanism.

BURKINA FASO expressed concern at the amount set for the replenishment of the fund and said it was disappointed that a decision on concessional loans could not be reached.

Patrick Szell (UK), Chair of the legal drafting group, introduced document UNEP/OzL.Pro.11/3/Rev.1, which contained the text of the agreed amendment and adjustments. The amendment and adjustments were adopted, with the addition of interpretative language relating to allowances for basic domestic needs as part of HCFC production controls for Article 5 countries. The President announced that this package would be known as the "Beijing Amendment and adjustments".

Co-Chairs of the Open-ended Working Group of Parties to the Montreal Protocol: Plenary adopted this decision, which endorses the selection of John Ashe (Antigua and Barbuda, pictured here) and Milton Catelin (Australia) as the Co-Chairs of the OEWG for the year 2000.

Above and left: Xie Zhenhua, Minister of the State Environmental Protection Administration of China, embracing Executive Secretary Sarma at the close of MOP-11/COP-5.

Right, and below: views from the exhibit hall

Left: The OzonAction Strategic Information System (OASIS) was among the products being promoting at the UNEP OzonAction booth. This electronic reference tool, in the form of a CD-ROM, offers information on sources of assistance, technology alternatives and policy developments with the primary goal of improving decision-making capabilities in Article 5 countries. For more information, please consult the OzonAction web site.

Your MOP-11/COP-5 ENB team, from left to right: Chris Spence (New Zealand), Joanna Depledge (France/UK), Ian Fry (Australia), Laura Ivers (US) and Andrei Henry (Canada)

Ozone Secretariat MOP-11 web site with official documents
Linkages chemical management page
UNEP's OzonAction, Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) and other ozone related links
More ozone links

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