July 8, 2006
Multilateral Fund celebrates 15 years of success in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
The Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol, the first United Nations Environment Programme body to be hosted by the Government of Canada, will hold a reception on Monday 10 July to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the establishment of its Secretariat in Montreal.
Representatives of the federal and provincial governments, the City of Montreal and Montreal International will gather with members of the Multilateral Fund’s Executive Committee as well as with representatives of other UN and international organisation to mark the event.
the Multilateral Fund came to Montreal 15 years ago in January 1991, with a mandate to assist developing countries in reducing and eventually stopping the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) controlled under the Montreal Protocol. Operating from Montreal, the Secretariat of the Multilateral Fund has supported the management of the Fund through the Executive Committee in mounting a global programme in over 140 countries. The technical and financial assistance from the Multilateral Fund had enabled the governments of these countries to enact national legislation to discourage the production and use of these harmful chemicals and to replace ozone‑depleting technologies with ozone-layer friendly ones. As a result, a total of 190,661 tonnes of production and 116,197 tonnes of consumption have been phased out by the developing countries by the end of 2005. The overwhelming majority of those countries are now well-positioned to comply with the timetable for the phase out of ozone-depleting substances set by the Montreal Protocol.
Key factors in the success of the Multilateral Fund in facilitating the implementation of the Montreal Protocol have been the successful partnership between developed and developing countries that manage the Fund and the contracting out of implementation to 4 multilateral and a number of bilateral implementing agencies including Canada which had been very proactive in the process.
In the process, the Secretariat of the Multilateral Fund has made Montreal the home of the Multilateral Fund and a focal destination for the global ozone community. Every year delegates from over 150 countries come to attend the meetings of the Multilateral Fund and enjoy the hospitality of the people of Montreal. The 15th anniversary celebration in Montreal is an opportunity for the Multilateral Fund Secretariat and the ozone community to say “Thank you,” to Canada, Quebec and to the city of Montreal.
As Maria Nolan, Chief Officer of the Fund Secretariat said, “The successes achieved so far would not have been possible without the steady and dependable support of the Federal Government of Canada and the Provincial Government of Quebec.”
Background information
The ozone layer which absorbs ultraviolet radiation harmful to living organisms and human health, is in danger from several chemicals currently used in industry and agriculture such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform and methyl bromide.
The Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol began its operation in 1991. The main objective of the Multilateral Fund is to assist developing country parties to the Montreal Protocol whose annual per capita consumption and production of ozone-depleting substances is less than 0.3 kg to comply with the control measures of the Protocol. These countries are referred to as Article 5 countries.
The Fund is managed by an Executive Committee chaired in 2006 by Mr. Khaled Klaly of Syria. The Committee is assisted by the Fund Secretariat which is based in Montreal. Activities are implemented by four international agencies (UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO, World Bank) and a number of bilateral implementing agencies of donor countries. Responsibility for overseeing the operation of the Fund rests with the Executive Committee comprising seven members each from Article 5 countries (Brazil, Burundi, Guinea, India, Mexico, the Syrian Arab Republic and Zambia) and non-Article 5 countries (Australia, Belgium Czech Republic, Italy, Japan, Sweden and the USA). Since 1991, the Multilateral Fund has approved activities including industrial conversion, technical assistance, training and capacity building worth over US $2 billion.
For further information, please contact:
Julia Anne Dearing
Information Management Officer
Secretariat of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol
1800 McGill College, 27th floor
Montreal, QC, Canada H3A 3J6
Phone: +1-514 282-1122
Cell : 514 568 9375
Fax: +1 514 282-0068
Email: secretariat@unmfs.org
Website: www.multilateralfund.org
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