At the 2025 Conference of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS COPs), held in Geneva from 28 April to 9 May, the Montreal Protocol was prominently featured in discussions on chemicals, waste, and climate governance. UNEP OzonAction and its partners organized multiple side events and hosted a dedicated booth to showcase synergies between multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs).
UNEP OzonAction supports developing countries—referred to as Article 5 Parties—in meeting Montreal Protocol obligations through its Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP). CAP delivers technical support, policy guidance, training for customs officers, and institutional capacity-building to combat illegal trade in ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFC).
In collaboration with the Ozone Secretariat, Climate & Clean Air Coalition, Carbon Containment Lab, GIZ, Environmental Investigation Agency, PACE II, UNDP, and the World Customs Organization, UNEP OzonAction emphasized the value of inter-agency efforts in environmental governance and enforcement.
On 1 May, the event "Interlinkages between the BRS Conventions and the Montreal Protocol" addressed shared challenges such as illegal trade, environmentally sound management of refrigerants, and overlapping regulatory regimes. Specific chemical examples included methyl bromide, carbon tetrachloride, PFAS, and halons. The event highlighted policy tools like the Prior Informed Consent procedure and Extended Producer Responsibility.
On 5 May, the session "Aligning for Lifecycle Refrigerant Management" focused on end-of-life handling of cooling and heating appliances. Presenters shared guidance documents from the PACE II partnership and discussed the transboundary movement of refrigerants, the lack of destruction facilities, and the risk of emissions. Speakers underlined the role of national legal frameworks, certification schemes, and life-cycle monitoring systems.
On 6 May, the event "Agility of MEA Compliance Mechanisms" highlighted the Montreal Protocol’s Implementation Committee and its evolving mandate. Participants discussed how compliance bodies adapt to emerging challenges and cooperate across agreements, including the Minamata Convention and the Paris Agreement.
The Montreal Protocol booth served as a central information point, reinforcing the treaty’s links to broader environmental goals and promoting dialogue among stakeholders.
“The 2025 BRS COPs underscored a powerful truth: multilateral environmental agreements are stronger when they work together,” the organizers stated.