10 December 2012: Marco Gonzalez, Executive Secretary of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and its Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, presented an award to Helen Clark, UN Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator, in recognition of UNDP’s “exceptional contribution to the success of the Montreal Protocol.”

UNDP has supported developing countries to implement their commitments to phase out ozone depleting substances (ODS) since 1991. Through its Montreal Protocol Unit, UNDP has assisted 118 countries in eliminating over 68,500 tons of ODS and avoiding four gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. UNDP has also supported developing countries to convert to ozone and climate-friendly technologies, and has built the capacity of government officials to fulfill their requirements under the Convention and its Protocol. In addition, UNDP has assisted countries in accessing funding to eliminate ODS from the Protocol’s Multilateral Fund (MLF) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The award ceremony took place in New York, US. The Montreal Protocol celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. [UNDP Press Release]