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The Open-ended Working Group was established by decision I/5 of the First Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol in 1989 pursuant to Article 11 of the Montreal Protocol. The Open-ended Working Group meets at least once every year and its meetings are convened by the Secretariat according to decision I/6 of the First Meeting of the Parties. The Open-ended Working Group is comprised of all Parties to the Montreal Protocol and its meetings are co-chaired by one representative from a group of developed countries and another representative from a group of developing countries.

The mandate of the Open-ended Working Group as outlined in decision I/5 is to review the report of the Assessment Panels and integrate them into one synthesis report; to prepare draft proposals for any amendments to the Montreal Protocol which would be needed; and to develop work plans based on the following elements that were listed in decision I/4:

  1. Dissemination of the reports of the panels for scientific, environmental, technical, and economic assessments, as well as the synthesis report, and their follow-up;
  2. Regular updating of the panel reports, taking into account in particular the developments in the fields of production of environmentally sound substitutes or alternative technological solutions to the use of CFCs or halons;
  3. Development of a programme, which will include workshops, demonstration projects, training courses, the exchange of experts and the provision of consultants on control options, taking into account the special needs of developing countries;
  4. Preparation of a study of retrofit technologies applicable to existing manufacturing facilities that produce controlled substances or products made with or containing such substances;
  5. Facilitation of the production and wide dissemination of material for public information;
  6. Exploration of specific ways of promoting exchange and transfer of environmentally sound substitutes and alternative technologies;
  7. Initiatives to support activities in programmes of international organizations and financing agencies that could contribute towards implementing the provisions of the Protocol, and defining means by which the Secretariat can initiate concrete contacts with the appropriate international organizations, programmes and financing agencies for this purpose.

By decision I/13 of the First Meeting of the Parties, the Open ended Working Group was also charged with developing modalities for the establishment of international financial and other mechanisms including adequate international funding mechanisms which do not exclude the possibility of an international Fund to enable developing countries to meet the requirements of the future strengthened Protocol, thereby addressing the ozone depletion and related problems.

The mandate of the Open-ended Working Group was further extended by decision III/15 of the Third Meeting of the Parties to include consideration of  the topics on (a) Further elaboration of any remaining details of the various components of the Financial Mechanism; (b) Identification of the most appropriate modalities for the transfer of technologies designed for the protection of the ozone layer; (c) Cooperation with Parties that are developing countries for the implementation of the Protocol; and (d) Problems arising under the trade provisions of the Protocol, in respect of both trade between Parties and trade with non-Parties including issues related to free trade zones.

Over the years the mandate of the Open-ended Working Group has been expanded to include consideration of virtually every issue that is referred to it by the Meeting of the Parties for technical advice and guidance. The decision-making process of the Open-ended Working Group meeting is restricted to adoption of recommendations to the Meeting of the Parties. It is only the Meeting of the Parties which makes final decisions on any matter referred to the Open-ended Working Group meeting.

Date:
-
Country:
Thailand
City:
Bangkok
Event type:
Other
Event kind:
Official
Event access:
Public