South Sudan cabinet approves Montreal Protocol on Ozone-Depleting Substances

JUBA – South Sudan’s council of ministers in its regular weekly meeting chaired by president Salva Kiir Mayardit in Juba on Friday approved the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

Speaking to reporters during the cabinet meeting, information minister Michael Makuei Lueth said the cabinet heard from the country’s minister of justice and constitutional affairs Ruben Madol who presented the Montreal Protocol.

The senior government official confirmed that the cabinet adopted the protocol after thorough deliberation and will advance it to the next level.

“The Council of Ministers passed it today with directives to the Minister to table it before the National Legislative Assembly for deliberation and adoption,” Makuei told journalists of the protocol.

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is a global agreement aimed at phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS). Signed in 1987 and effective from 1989, it was the first treaty to achieve universal ratification.

The protocol mandates binding obligations for both developed and developing countries to phase out substances like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international treaty aimed at protecting the Earth’s ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS).

These substances include chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which are commonly used in refrigeration, air conditioning, foam manufacturing, and as industrial solvents.

Signed in 1987 and effective from 1989, the protocol is significant as it was the first global agreement to be universally ratified by all countries in the United Nations. Its success has led to a substantial reduction in the release of ozone-depleting chemicals, contributing to the gradual recovery of the ozone layer.

The protocol includes mandatory, time-bound commitments for both developed and developing countries to phase out specific ODS. Over the years, it has been adjusted and amended to include new substances and stricter targets as scientific understanding of ozone depletion and climate impact has grown.

A key milestone was the 2016 Kigali Amendment, which expanded the protocol to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which don’t deplete the ozone layer but are potent greenhouse gases, thus extending the protocol’s impact to climate protection.