MONTREAL- Canada's Environment Minister John Baird, is pleased to announce that countries attending the Montreal Protocol conference have reached a major agreement to speed up the phase-out of chemicals that harm the ozone layer and cause climate change.

"The Montreal Protocol, already considered the most successful environmental agreement to date, will do even more to protect both the ozone layer as well as the most pressing issue of our time - climate change," Minister Baird said.  "Today's announcement demonstrates the kind of concrete action citizens around the world are demanding."

At the start of the conference Minister Baird challenged the international community to speed up the phase-out of chemicals that deplete the ozone layer and cause climate change. Under the agreement, 191 countries have agreed to aggressively accelerate the elimination of the last ozone depleting substances of importance, called hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).  This will be accomplished by advancing the freeze of HCFCs production and consumption by 3 years in developing countries.  That will be followed by the addition of an ambitious series of reductions leading to a phase out 10 years sooner.

Previously, there were no limits imposed prior to the phase-out in developing countries which was scheduled for 2040. In addition, developed countries have agreed to an accelerated schedule for the phase out of production and consumption by 2020.

"What's even more remarkable is we have an agreement on ozone and climate change that includes China, India and the United States," said Minister Baird. "This is encouraging as the world meets next week to fight climate change at the United Nations and in Washington."

"Countries have also reaffirmed their commitment to this significant agreement to protect human health and the environment by adopting the Montreal Declaration," said Minister Baird.  "The agreements reached in Montreal this week will hopefully provide an example for upcoming climate change meetings in New York, in Washington and in Bali over the coming weeks and months."

"Historic is an often over-used word but not in the case of this agreement made in Montreal. Governments had a golden opportunity to deal with the twin challenges of climate change and protecting the ozone layer - and governments took it. The precise and final savings in terms of greenhouse gas emissions could amount to several billions of tonnes illustrating the complementarities of international environmental agreements," said Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme.

On Monday, September 24, the Prime Minister will participate in a high level event on climate change at the United Nations in New York.  Later in the week, Minister Baird will lead Canada's delegation at the Major Economies Initiative in Washington.  At both of these events, Canada will continue its leadership role in pushing for a global framework for fighting climate change beyond 2012.