The passing of two decades since the inception of the Montreal Protocol has provided scientific proof of the treaty s effectiveness and truly deserves the title of the most successful environmental treaty to date. Having phased out 95 percent of the ozone-depleting substances covered in the treaty, the Montreal Protocol has not only allowed the ozone hole to begin the healing process, but as scientists have recently discovered, the treaty has also been an incredibly effective measure in mitigating climate change. Phasing out harmful ozone substances that double as deadly greenhouse gases has delayed climate forcing by 35-41 years. These ozone and climate benefits however, did not come easy. It took the work and partnership of many to build the strong, but flexible structure that is the Montreal Protocol today. The dedicated team of ozone officers from 191 countries and a critical funding mechanism developed to assist developing countries have been great contributors to its success. This book aims to take a comprehensive look at the Montreal Protocol from its very beginnings to the present, looking toward the future. Section I: Early History: Science, Diplomacy, and Leadership is comprised of articles that focus on the events leading up to the creation of the treaty and its early years. Section II: Dynamic Evolution: Technology, Assessment, and Funding lays out the structure of the Montreal Protocol, including the development of the Multilateral Fund which has made possible the involvement of developing countries in the phase-outs of ozone-depleting substances. The readings in Section III: New Challenges: Following Through with Ozone and Joining the Climate Battle, address the issue of climate change, and note that while it is appropriate to commend the Montreal Protocol and the ozone team for past successes, we cannot stop there. The authors speak to a proposed adjustment to the treaty: an accelerated phase-out of HCFCs which would bring enormous climate benefits much more than the emissions reductions expected from the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina, Guus Velders, K. Madhava Sarma, Durwood Zaelke, Rajendra Shende, Donald Kaniaru, Romina Picolotti, Steve O. Anderson, Mostafa Tolba, and Richard Elliot Benedick are among the contributors to this book.
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