Recalling the provisions under paragraphs 6 and 7 of Article 2J of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer on by‑product emissions from each production facility that manufactures Annex C, Group I substances or Annex F substances,

Taking note of the information on HFC-23 emissions in the 2022 quadrennial assessment report of the Scientific Assessment Panel,^[1]

Taking note also of the information on chemical pathways that may generate HFC-23 by‑product emissions and on best practices for controlling such emissions in the 2022 assessment report of the Medical and Chemical Technical Options Committee of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel and in the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel’s report on by-product emissions of hydrofluorocarbon-23 (HFC-23), in response to decision XXXIV/7,[2]

1. To request the Scientific Assessment Panel to provide an update on HFC-23 emissions into the atmosphere and atmospheric concentrations to supplement the information in the 2022 quadrennial assessment report, including by reflecting any new information regarding atmospheric monitoring and atmospheric modelling, with its underlying methodology, including in quantifiable terms, with respect to such emissions, and taking into account information reported under paragraph 3 ter of Article 7 by all parties that manufacture Annex C, Group I and/or Annex F substances, and to prepare a report on the matter to the Thirty-Sixth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol;
2. To request the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel to prepare a report to the Thirty-Sixth Meeting of the Parties containing information regarding:

(a)         The quantity of HFC-23 being consumed, by country and by sector;

(b)         Updated estimates on the amounts of HFC-23 generated at and emissions from HCFC‑22 production facilities including methodology with respect to such emissions. In preparing this information, the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel should take into account information reported under paragraph 3 ter of Article 7 by all parties that manufacture Annex C, Group I and/or Annex F substances, as well as information from other sources;

3. To request the Ozone Secretariat in advance of the forty-sixth meeting of the Open‑ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol to provide options for consideration by the parties with respect to potential changes to reporting form 3, specifically concerning when HFC-23 is generated, destroyed, or maintained as stocks;
4. To request the Ozone Secretariat to make available on the website, aggregated by party, data reported under paragraph 3 ter of Article 7 by any parties producing Annex C, Group I and/or Annex F substances;
5. To invite parties with available relevant scientific or technical information that may help inform the reports of the Scientific Assessment Panel and the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 2 above to provide that information to the Secretariat by 1 March 2024.

[1] World Meteorological Organization, Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2022, GAW Report No. 278 (Geneva, 2022).

[2] Report of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel, Sept. 2023, vol. 6: Response to Decision XXXIV/7: Strengthening institutional processes with respect to information on HFC-23 by-product emissions.