'Montreal Protocol most successful on ozone layer protection'

Environment Ministry Secretary T Chatterjee said the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer has been recognised as the most successful international environment treaty as the developed nations provided "some sort of the assistance to the developing and emerging countries" to deal with the issue.

Addressing a function here to mark the 25th anniversary of Montreal Protocol, he indicated that the developed nations, which provided assistance to the poor countries under the treaty, had failed to provide help to the developing and underdeveloped nations to deal with the issue of climate change.

"The Montreal Protocol is a successful multilateral agreement which we implemented very well. We must know why this has been successful and the climate change negotiations are going on. We already have 17 climate change negotiations ... No agreement at all," he said.

The Montreal Protocol has received universal ratification. All countries in the world have now ratified this landmark agreement.

The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was signed on March 22, 1985 and the Montreal Protocol on September 16, 1987.

Since 1995, this day is celebrated every year as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer and commemorates the date of signing of the Montreal Protocol.

This year being the 25th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol, it was decided to celebrate the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer today.