Letter of the Day | COP26 should be guided by Montreal Protocol

THE EDITOR, Madam:

As this generation of leaders commence their meeting at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, this is an open letter encouraging them to follow in the footsteps of an earlier generation of leaders when they adopted the Montreal Protocol.

In the 1980s, the world came perilously close to causing irreversible damage to the ozone layer, caused by the emission of predominantly chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other greenhouse gases into the earth’s atmosphere. This was avoided by the Montreal Protocol. Albeit reversing the effects of climate change was not the direct goal of Montreal Protocol, climate change has benefited from that agreement.

The Montreal Protocol was adopted in 1987 and was finally ratified by 196 nations, agreeing to phase out substances that deplete the ozone layer by imposing strict rules on the signatories. It is one of the most successful international treaties on the environment.

That generation of leaders had the wisdom to perceive that the narrow commercial interests of industry and sector leaders were not sufficiently persuasive to prohibit them from imposing strict rules and regulations on the prohibition of CFCs. The perspicacity proved them right. Rules and regulations were put in force, and technology and sector interests were forced to adapt.

The Montreal Protocol may not be an exact precedent to follow, but the spirit of Montreal should guide our leaders as to what is needed at this critical juncture. We can only hope that the spirit of Montreal descends on COP26.

DOUGLAS LEYS

General Counsel

Green Climate Fund

Incheon, Republic of Korea