Summary: The Montreal Protocol is an international agreement concluded nearly a decade ago that seeks to eliminate the use of substances, such as chloroflurocarbons, that deplete the ozone layer. In the first few years after the Protocol was signed in 1987, most developed nations agreed to reduce and eventually eliminate their use of ozone-depleting substances, but few third world countries made a similar commitment. A 1990 amendment to the Protocol established a multilateral fund to which developed countries could contribute. The purpose of the fund is to help developing countries reduce and ultimately cease their use of ozone-depleting substances. This testimony (1) identifies the principal contributors to the fund, (2) identifies the principal recipients of disbursements from the fund, (3) discusses the purposes for which disbursements were made, (4) discusses what has been accomplished with these expenditures, and (5) assesses the controls and accountability mechanisms in place to ensure proper use of money disbursed from the fund. GAO also provides information on administrative costs associated with project implementation.
