Today & Tomorrow
Recovery, the Kigali Amendment, and what comes next.
The ozone layer is recovering
Thanks to the Montreal Protocol, the atmospheric concentrations of most ODS are declining. The 2022 Scientific Assessment confirmed that the ozone layer is on track to recover to 1980 levels by approximately 2066 over Antarctica, 2045 over the Arctic, and 2040 for the rest of the world.
The Kigali Amendment
Adopted in 2016, the Kigali Amendment extends the Montreal Protocol to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). HFCs don't deplete ozone but are potent greenhouse gases with global warming potentials hundreds to thousands of times greater than CO₂. Full implementation could avoid up to 0.4°C of global warming by 2100.
Seychelles and the Kigali Amendment
Seychelles ratified the Kigali Amendment in 2019 and follows the Article 5 Group 1 schedule: freeze HFC consumption in 2024 at the baseline level, then reduce by 10% in 2029, 30% in 2035, 50% in 2040, and 80% in 2045. The Ozone Unit is already working with the RAC sector to transition to lower-GWP alternatives.
What you can do
Service your AC and refrigeration equipment regularly to prevent leaks. Use certified technicians. Choose equipment with climate-friendly refrigerants when replacing old systems. Report suspicious imports of banned substances to the Ozone Unit.