Saudi Arabia reached a 69 percent reduction in ozone-depleting substances during the first half of 2026. This action supports the implementation of the Montreal Protocol and the phase-out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC).
According to SPA, data from the National Center for Environmental Compliance shows that more than 8,000 metric tons of ozone-depleting substances and hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) clearance permits were issued since the start of the year under the ozone-depleting substances phase-out project.
Saad Al-Mutrafi, official spokesperson for the National Center for Environmental Compliance, stated that this progress coincides with the strengthening of the regulatory system via the environmental clearance system. He noted that more than 3,200 clearance permits for substances covered by the Montreal Protocol have been issued since 2023.
Al-Mutrafi added that electronic connectivity between the National Center for Environmental Compliance and the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority has accelerated shipment clearance and increased service efficiency. He mentioned that Saudi Arabia’s ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol in September 2025 is a step toward reducing high-climate-impact gases.
The spokesperson also highlighted that cooperation among Arabian Gulf countries in protecting the ozone layer strengthens regional integration.