On 16 September 2023, the World Customs Organization (WCO) joins with the international community in marking the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, commonly known as World Ozone Day – an opportunity to acknowledge achievements, take stock of where we are, and highlight the ongoing work under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol). This work is appropriately summarized by the theme selected for 2023, which is “Montreal Protocol: fixing the ozone layer and reducing climate change”.
The WCO is very proud to have played an active role in this endeavour over many years by working with our Member Customs administrations to undertake compliance actions at borders, and by enabling international trade monitoring through the inclusion in the Harmonized System (HS) of specific provisions for ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and – with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol – for various hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are potent greenhouse gases commonly used by the cooling industry.
Emphasizing the significance of cooperation at policy level for addressing critical environmental issues, WCO Secretary General Dr. Kunio Mikuriya said “cooperation, in this case between the Ozone Secretariat and the WCO, has made the regulation of trade in refrigerants with ozone-depletion-properties or high global warming potential much more effective”. “New codes have indeed been introduced in the 2022 edition of the HS,” he added, “and this WCO instrument used by Customs administrations for the classification of goods at borders now covers mixtures containing Montreal-listed substances, thus facilitating the implementation of the Protocol on the ground”.
It was recognized in the 1970s and 1980s that the depletion of the ozone layer poses serious risks to human health, agriculture, and terrestrial and oceanic ecosystems. Given the seriousness of these risks, the world came together to find solutions, resulting in the development of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, agreed on 16 September 1987 – the only UN treaty which is truly globally ratified, currently counting 198 Parties.
The Montreal Protocol establishes legally binding controls on the global production and consumption of ODS and HFCs. Mandatory export and import licensing and permit systems are in place, with the aim of ensuring that controlled substances are used and traded legally. Through strict monitoring and inspections of ODS and selected HFCs that enter or exit their respective countries, Customs officers around the world ensure compliance with national commitments under the Protocol and prevent illegal trade in these controlled substances.
The most recent Assessment conducted by the Montreal Protocol Scientific Assessment Panel confirms that actions taken under the Montreal Protocol to address the environmental issues generated by the use of ODS have had a positive impact on advancing towards the recovery of the ozone layer.
The Assessment Report also reveals that the work done to decrease the presence of ODS in the atmosphere through the implementation of the Protocol is mitigating the amount of climatic warming – it is estimated that this would help prevent an extra 0.5° C in global temperature rise by mid-century. Full implementation of the Kigali Amendment would further increase this benefit, so there are urgent calls for the universal ratification and implementation of the Amendment to help with the further reduction of global warming and environmental degradation.
The Report also outlines the challenges and future risks that could set this progress back. While the Montreal Protocol is considered to be one of the most successful environmental treaties to date, the work remains ongoing and is as essential today as it was 36 years ago. This means that the ongoing commitment of governments world-wide is still required, including through the work of their Customs administrations at the border.
In this connection, as part of a concerted inter-agency effort the WCO, UNEP OzonAction and various partners within the Green Customs Initiative regularly organize global enforcement operations that target illicit shipments of controlled substances. WCO Member administrations benefit from training and guidance in the course of these operations, giving Customs officers the opportunity to improve their skills as well as facilitating their access to critical information, and thus enabling them to tackle illegal trade in ODS and HFCs more effectively.
By supporting the monitoring of cross-border trade flows in controlled substances and combatting the illegal trade in such goods, the international Customs community plays a key role in the vital efforts to preserve the ozone layer and mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.