foreword
On 16 September 1987, the treaty known as the Montreal Protocol on
fore

Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed into existence
by a group of concerned countries that felt compelled to take action
to solve an alarming international environmental crisis: the depletion
of the Earth’s protective ozone layer. Since that humble beginning two
decades ago, this treaty has taken root, grown and finally blossomed
into what has been described as “Perhaps the single most successful
international environmental agreement to date”. It has become an
outstanding example of developing and developed country partnership,
a clear demonstration of how global environmental problems can be
managed when all countries make determined efforts to implement
internationally-agreed frameworks. But why has it worked so well, how
has it impacted our lives, what work lies before us, and what lessons we
can learn from it?
The story of the Montreal Protocol is really a collective of they need to start developing their own ozone story ideas.
hundreds of compelling and newsworthy individual stories The graphics and figures can be used in articles ready-
which are waiting for the right voice. There are caution- made. We want the information in this publication and the
ary tales of the need to avoid environmental problems at associated web site to inform and inspire journalists to go
the start. There are inspiring stories of partnership, innova- out and investigate this story and to tell the ozone tale – the
tion and countries working together for the common good. good and the bad – to readers, viewers or listeners.
There are stories of hope, of humanity being able to suc-
cessfully reverse a seemingly insurmountable environmen- Vital Ozone Graphics was produced jointly by the Ozon-
tal problem while balancing economic and societal needs. Action Branch of UNEP’s Division on Technology, Industry
Beyond numbers and statistics, the Montreal Protocol is and Economics (DTIE) and UNEP/GRID-Arendal, as part of
above all a story with a human face, showing how the con- an initiative to engage journalists on the ozone story, with
sequences of a global environmental issue can affect us as support provided by the Multilateral Fund for the Imple-
individuals – our health, our families our occupations, our mentation of the Montreal Protocol.
communities – and how we as individuals can be part of
the solution. While specifically targeted at members of the media, we
believe that anyone interested in learning about the Mon-
This year, the 20th anniversary of this landmark agreement, treal Protocol and ozone layer depletion will find this publi-
affords us all the opportunity to investigate these stories. cation to be an interesting and insightful reference.
Each country and region, their institutions and individuals,
have all made major contributions to the protection of the I hope the reading of the coming pages is not only enjoy-
ozone layer, and their stories must be told. We want to en- able, but will stimulate the creative juices of the media and
list the help of journalists in telling this story, and through trigger broader coverage of the ozone protection efforts
this publication, we are trying to assist in these broad com- in newspapers and on radio, TV and the Internet across
munications efforts. around globe.

This Vital Ozone Graphics, the youngest product in a series Achim Steiner,
of Vital Graphics on environmental issues, provides journal- United Nations Under-Secretary General
ists with the essential visuals, facts, figures and contacts Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme
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