Resumed Session of the 37th Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG 37) of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, OEWG 38
and 3rd Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol

The resumed OEWG 37 met for its final day on Saturday, 16 July 2016, in Vienna, Austria. Informal discussions were held throughout the day and night. Topics addressed included funding, HCFCs-HFCs linkages and exemptions not related to HAT.

The HFC Management Contact Group reconvened in the evening to assess whether solutions had been generated for the identified challenges. As more time was required, informal discussions resumed. Following protracted negotiations, the contact group reconvened to conclude its work in the early hours of Sunday, 17 July 2016. Participants then convened in plenary, which heard an update on the status of discussion on each of the identified challenges. OEWG 37 was gavelled to a close at 3.12 am.

The thirty-eighth session of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Montreal Protocol (OEWG 38) opened in Vienna, Austria on 18 July 2016. In the morning, delegates heard opening remarks and addressed the agenda and the organization of work. Discussion then turned to the Technical and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) report on updated and new information on alternatives for ozone depleting substances (ODS).

In the afternoon, parties addressed the Dubai Pathway on HFCs, the TEAP 2016 report, and issues related to exemptions under Articles 2A–2I of the Montreal Protocol, including nominations for essential-use exemptions for 2017 and nominations for critical-use exemptions for 2017 and 2018. They also addressed issues related to the phase-out of HCFCs, the availability of recovered, recycled or reclaimed halons, terms of reference for the study on the 2018-2020 replenishment of the multilateral fund, a report by the TEAP and the Scientific Assessment Panel on carbon tetrachloride discrepancies, and the destruction of ODS banks.

The HFC Management Contact Group met in the evening.

The thirty-eighth session of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Montreal Protocol (OEWG 38) convened for its second day in Vienna, Austria, on 19 July 2016. In the morning, delegates addressed the Technological and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) organizational matters and a conference room paper on forming an ad hoc standard coordinating group on criteria or standards on substitutes. A contact group on the terms of reference for the study on the 2018-2020 replenishment of the Multilateral Fund (MLF) then convened.

The HFC Management Contact Group met throughout the afternoon and evening.

OEWG 38 reconvened for its third day of deliberations in Vienna, Austria, on 20 July 2016. In the morning, delegates addressed the issue of amendments to the Protocol in the HFC Management Contact Group. Plenary also reconvened for stocktaking.

In the afternoon, contact and informal groups on the TOR for the Study on the 2018-2020 Replenishment of the MLF, the draft proposal to establish an ad hoc standards coordination group, and HFC Management met.

The thirty-eighth session of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Montreal Protocol (OEWG 38) resumed on 21 July 2016, in Vienna, Austria.

In the morning, delegates convened in plenary to hear updates on outstanding agenda items. The HFC Management Contact Group met throughout the day.

In the late afternoon, OEWG 38 closing plenary convened. Due to OEWG 38 being unable to conclude its work, the meeting was suspended at 5:45 pm. Discussions on HFC Management will be held in parallel to third Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (ExMOP 3), which convenes on 22 July 2016.

In the evening, the Government of Austria hosted a reception.

The Third Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (ExMOP 3) opened in Vienna, Austria, on 22 July 2016. In the morning, delegates heard opening remarks from dignitaries. A ministerial round table entitled ‘Moving Forward to Deliver in 2016 on the Mandate of the Dubai Pathway on HFCs’ then took place. Following this round table, delegations made general statements, which continued into the afternoon.

The informal group (as part of the Contact Group on HFC Management) also met in the afternoon and into the night.

The Third Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (ExMOP 3) convened for its final day in Vienna, Austria, on 23 July 2016. In the morning, delegates heard the report of the Credentials' Committee and concluded general statements.

The informal setting (as part of the Contact Group on HFC Management) reconvened in the morning and in the late afternoon, when it concluded its work. The Contact Group on HFC Management reconvened at 5:35 pm.

6:36 pm - HFC Management Contact Group consultations ongoing
8:05 pm - HFC Management Contact Group scheduled to reconvene at 9:00 pm. Informal consultations taking place.
9:22 pm - informal consultations ongoing
10:03 pm - HFC Management Contact Group to reconvene at approximately 10:30 pm.
10:53 pm - informal consultations are still ongoing
11:28 pm -HFC Management Contact Group resumes. Delegates discuss baseline/freeze date proposals.
12:26 am - HFC Management Contact Group adjourns, having concluded its work. OEWG 38 to reconvene.
12:52 am - ExMOP 3 reconvenes.
01:10 am - ExMOP 3 closes.