28 June 2013: At the 33rd meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG 33) of the parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, delegates discussed the organization of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) and initiated formal discussions on the financial, legal and technical issues associated with managing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

OEWG 33 convened in Bangkok, Thailand, from 24-28 June 2013. Participants also considered issues related to: the 2013 Progress Report of the TEAP; exemptions under Articles 2A-2I of the Montreal Protocol; nominations for critical-use exemptions for 2014-2015; the handbook on critical-use nominations for methyl bromide; quarantine and pre-shipment uses of methyl bromide; uses of controlled substances as process agents; the TEAP report on additional information on ozone-depleting substances (ODS); information on ODS transition policy measures; organizational issues related to the TEAP; controlled substances used on ships; the review by the Scientific Assessment Panel (SAP) of RC-316c; issues related to funding; the implications of the outcome document of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) for small island developing States (SIDS); and two proposed amendments to the Montreal Protocol.

Contact and discussion groups convened throughout the week on: SIDS; TEAP organizational issues; nominations to the TEAP; issues related to HFCs management; the terms of reference for the 2015-2017 replenishment of the Multilateral Fund (MLF); and additional funding for the MLF for the implementation of the Protocol to maximize the climate benefit of the accelerated phase-out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). [IISD RS Meeting Coverage] [Meeting Website]