The Montreal Protocol is an international agreement signed in 1987 aimed at protecting the Earth's ozone layer. It was adopted in response to emerging speculations at the time - and later scientific evidence - that certain chemicals, primarily chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons, were causing the degradation of ozone in the stratosphere. The discovery of the so-called ozone hole over Antarctica became the impetus for rapid global action. Antarctica previously had one of the larger ozone layers - largely because it was a continent without factories, cities, or smokestacks.
The refrigeration industry was much less advanced, and heat pumps were still in their infancy. The provisions of the pact therefore had to influence the development of the heat pump and air conditioning industry.
The Montreal Protocol was initially signed by 46 countries, but over time all UN member states joined. In this situation, it was difficult to circumvent, for example, by moving the production of older, harmful refrigerants to other countries.
Ultimately, the agreement became the only international treaty in history ratified by 100% of the world's countries – it currently has 197 parties (including the European Union as a separate entity). Interestingly, even North Korea signed the agreement (in 1995), despite its refusal to sign most international agreements - though monitoring its compliance with the agreement is rather weak.
Among the first signatories were, among others: the United States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, West Germany (then FRG), Italy, and the eastern block countries like the USSR, Poland or Czechoslovakia. The initiator and country credited with the idea, which also contributed to finding a consensus, was Canada, which explains why the agreement was finally signed in Montreal, on Canadian territory.
The Montreal Protocol introduced a schedule for the gradual reduction and eventual complete phase-out of the production and use of ozone-depleting substances (ODS). These included chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and brominated halons. The document also provided for technical and financial support for developing countries to enable their transition to safer technologies.
Each signatory state was therefore to introduce legislation aimed at limiting, for example, harmful refrigerants. They were not to be withdrawn immediately, but a schedule was established for how long they could be distributed, from when a partial distribution ban would apply, from when a complete ban, etc. Each country had to do this individually, tailored to its market specifics, but by signing the protocol, it confirmed acceptance of the general timelines and recommendations.
The verdict was in - i.e., the promise to phase out the oldest and most harmful refrigerants like R22.
The refrigeration and air conditioning industry was one of the sectors most affected by the changes, as CFCs and HCFCs were widely used as refrigerants. This had to cause changes... It forced intensive work on alternative substances that do not deplete the ozone layer, or deplete it less. As a result, new generations of refrigerants appeared on the market, such as HFCs (e.g., R134a, R407C, R410A), which had zero ozone depletion potential (ODP = 0). These new refrigerants set the direction for the industry from the 1990s onwards - including not only heat pumps and air conditioners but also refrigerators, freezers, etc. The Montreal Protocol had a huge impact on the refrigeration industry - in fact, R134a, R410a, and R407c are refrigerants that owed their position to this agreement.
Although HFCs proved effective as replacements, it was later demonstrated that they have a high global warming potential (GWP). This caused environmental policy to evolve further – towards limiting greenhouse gas emissions under subsequent regulations, such as the EU F-gas Regulation or the Paris Agreement. The industry therefore had to invest in even newer low-GWP refrigerants, including R32, R1234yf, or natural refrigerants like CO₂ and propane.
The Montreal Protocol is considered one of the most successful environmental agreements in history. Thanks to its implementation, emissions of ozone-depleting substances have been significantly reduced, and scientists predict that the ozone layer could return to its pre-1980s state in the second half of the 21st century. In the refrigeration industry, it became a symbol of global mobilization and proof that collective action can bring tangible benefits for both the environment and the economy.
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