21 November 2014: The 10th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (VC COP 10) and the 26th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MP MOP 26) have concluded in Paris, France, with MOP 26 adopting substantive decisions on: essential-use exemptions (EUEs) and critical-use exemptions (CUEs); availability of recovered, recycled or reclaimed halons; and a Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) report on alternatives to ozone depleting substances.

COP 10/MOP 26 convened from 17-21 November 2014. Procedural decisions were adopted on, inter alia: budget; organizational issues related to the TEAP; the Multilateral Fund (MLF) replenishment; and membership of Montreal Protocol bodies for 2015.

While most of the issues were not contentious, the Earth Negotiations Bulletin notes, Parties spent a number of hours deliberating on the MLF replenishment, the TEAP report on ODS Alternatives, and CUEs and EUEs. Proposed amendments on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and ways to the move the issue forward proved particularly difficult, with Parties unable to agree on a mandate for a discussion group going into 2015. [IISD RS Meeting Coverage]