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Thirteenth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
Colombo, Sri Lanka; 16-19 October 2001
 

Ozone MOP-13 Summary
The 13th Meeting of the Parties (MOP-13) to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer convened in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 16-19 October 2001. The meeting was attended by 325 participants from 108 countries, representing governments, UN agencies, and international and non-governmental organizations.

A preparatory segment was held from 16-17 October, followed by a high-level segment from 18-19 October. MOP-13 adopted decisions on, inter alia: the terms of reference (TOR) for a study on the 2003-2005 replenishment of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol; an evaluation and review of the performance of the Protocol's financial mechanism; a review of the Multilateral Fund's fixed-exchange-rate mechanism; Parties' compliance; procedures for assessing the ozone-depleting potential (ODP) of new substances; expedited procedures for adding new substances to the Protocol; chloroflurocarbon (CFC) production for metered-dose inhalers (MDIs); monitoring of international trade and prevention of illegal trade in ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and mixtures and products containing ODS; and the budget of the Trust Fund. MOP-13 also adopted the Colombo Declaration and took note of a Pacific Island Country Declaration.

The focus of MOP-13 was on the implementation of existing commitments, rather than the negotiation of new provisions. MOP-13 marked the first opportunity to review compliance by developing countries with their initial ODS controls, thus quietly launching a new era in the regime.

 

Daily Web Coverage
(Images and RealAudio)
Tue 16
Wed 17
Thu 18

* To view PDF files, you will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

* To listen to RealAudio, you will need the free RealAudio Basic Player.

Highlights for Friday, 19 October

On the last day of MOP-13, delegates heard high-level statements, and adopted decisions, the report of the meeting and the Colombo Declaration.

   


From left to right:
John Mate, Greenpeace International; and the EIA Ozone Team: Ezra Clark, Debbie Banks and Julian Newman.

Greenpeace International stated that ozone depletion and global climate disruption pose a greater threat to humanity than any human conflict, short of nuclear holocaust, and encouraged all Parties to keep a long-term outlook. He lamented the business-as-usual administrative attitude at MOPs and the lack of new and dynamic initiatives. He suggested that MOPs should be held every 18 months instead of annually, and that the savings of could be used for implementation. The Environmental Investigation Agency said that illegal trade in ODS has not been adequately addressed at the international level, and that decisions taken by the Parties continue to be undermined by profit-seeking criminals. He called for systematic and coordinated information exchange between enforcement agencies, and urged cooperation with other MEAs, especially with CITES and the Rotterdam, Basel and Stockholm Conventions.
 
                
Above: Members of the EU in a huddle just outside the Plenary Hall, discussing the Colombo Declaration.
The Colombo Declaration recognizes links between environmental issues such as climate change and
ozone layer depletion and, inter alia: urges governments and all stakeholders to apply due care in using new
substances that may have ODP; declares that much work remains to be done to ensure ozone protection;
and decides to share the Montreal Protocol's successful experience at WSSD.
 
Kiribati introduced an oral declaration on behalf of Fiji, Niue, Papua New Guinea and Samoa, which commits these countries to, inter alia: ratify the Montreal Protocol and its Amendments; urgently adopt ODS trade controls; take all necessary measures to comply with ODS controls; and fulfill reporting obligations. The Declaration also calls on Parties to consider the unique circumstances of Pacific Island countries when deciding on the 2003-2005 Multilateral Fund replenishment. Parties agreed to reflect the Declaration in the report of the MOP.
   
 

MOP-13 Vice-President Gunewardana thanked delegates, UNEP and the Secretariat for hard work and diligence, and hoped delegates would take pleasant memories of Sri Lanka home with them. He called on all delegates to work to bring about a peaceful world and a better environment. Deputy Executive Secretary Graber thanked delegates, the conference staff and interpreters for making MOP-13 a success. The meeting was gaveled to a close at 6:15 pm.

 
Miscellaneous images...   
The flag of the UN and several dozen Sri Lankan flags lining the entrance to the conference centre. When looking at the larger version of this image, note the giant Buddha across the street. 
 
 
Above: Envelope bearing the new stamp issued by the Sri Lankan Postal Service to commemorate MOP-13. The stamp was officially unveiled at the conclusion of the opening ceremony of the high-level segment.
 
   
    
Above: UNEP-DTIE's Sri Lankan-inspired stand displaying recently published materials. 
 
  The ENB MOP-13 team, from left to right: Andrei Henry (Canada), Kira Schmidt (US), Joanna Depledge (UK), and Laura Ivers (US). 


ENB's coverage of MOP-12

Linkages' Ozone page
Ozone Secretariat web site for MOP-13 with meeting documents
(including the annotated agenda)
UNEP's OzonAction, Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) and other ozone related linksclick to top 

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