The Directorate of Climate Change took the floor at the closing session of the 47th Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

22 July 2025

The Directorate of Climate Change took the floor at the closing session of the 47th Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. During the meeting held in Bangkok by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Ozone Secretariat, the Directorate of Climate Change raised the issue of classifying Palestine as a Party under Article 5, paragraph 1, of the Montreal Protocol and of enabling its access to support from the Multilateral Fund. 

At the meeting, which was attended by 198 countries that are Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, Türkiye was represented on behalf of the Directorate of Climate Change by Deputy Director Mehrali Ecer and Head of Monitoring of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Department Volkan Polat.

At the closing of the four-day meeting, emphasis was placed on the statement that “Türkiye supports the inclusion of the State of Palestine under Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.”

In his address, Head of Monitoring of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Department Polat indicated that Palestine should benefit from assistance and that Türkiye supports Palestine’s inclusion under Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Underscoring the need to ensure that Palestine is not left behind, Polat said: 

Palestine, which is facing major challenges, should benefit substantially from assistance

As one of the most successful international environmental agreements, the Montreal Protocol demonstrates the power of global cooperation in addressing urgent environmental challenges. Article 5 provides developing countries with critical financial, technical, and institutional support in the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances, in a manner that supports sustainable development. The State of Palestine, which is facing numerous environmental and economic challenges, would substantially benefit from the assistance provided under this article. This would encourage broader cooperation, capacity-building, and knowledge-sharing among countries facing similar environmental pressures. Supporting Palestine’s participation would contribute to our collective efforts to ensure that no country is left behind in protecting the ozone layer and combating climate change.