In international environmental law, there is a global agreement specifically designed to reduce and eventually phase out the production and consumption of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other ozone depleting substances. This agreement is known as which protocol?

Introduction / Context:
Chlorofluorocarbons, commonly called CFCs, were once widely used in refrigeration, air conditioning and aerosol sprays. However, scientists discovered that these chemicals were damaging the ozone layer in the stratosphere, increasing harmful ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth. In response, the international community negotiated a treaty to control and phase out ozone depleting substances. This question asks you to identify the name of that protocol from several similar sounding options.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• CFCs are a major group of ozone depleting substances targeted by international regulation.
• A specific treaty was signed to reduce and eventually eliminate their production and consumption.
• The correct protocol name is widely known in environmental science and general knowledge.
• Other options such as CFC Protocol, IR Protocol and UV Protocol are not names of widely recognised international agreements.

Concept / Approach:
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is the international treaty aimed at phasing out the production and use of CFCs and related ozone damaging chemicals. It was agreed in Montreal, Canada, and has been strengthened over time by amendments and adjustments. The protocol is considered one of the most successful environmental agreements, with significant recovery of the ozone layer expected because of it. Although the phrase CFC Protocol might sound descriptive, the official and universally recognised name is Montreal Protocol, not the generic terms given in other options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that CFCs are linked to ozone layer depletion and that an international protocol was created to deal with this problem. Step 2: Remember the formal name Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, usually shortened to Montreal Protocol. Step 3: Examine option c, Montreal Protocol, and recognise it as the correct official name of the treaty. Step 4: Consider option a, CFC Protocol, which is not the formal name even though it mentions CFCs. Step 5: Note that IR Protocol and UV Protocol in options b and d are not recognised names of global treaties, confirming that Montreal Protocol is the only accurate choice.

Verification / Alternative check:
Environmental policy documents and international law references describe the Montreal Protocol as a landmark treaty adopted in the late twentieth century and implemented under the framework of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. They detail schedules for phasing out CFCs, halons and other ozone depleting substances, and highlight the positive impact on ozone recovery. No international agreement called CFC Protocol, IR Protocol or UV Protocol appears in this context. This confirms that Montreal Protocol is the correct name of the agreement aimed at reducing CFC production and usage.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a, CFC Protocol, might describe the focus of the treaty but is not its official or commonly used name.

Option b, IR Protocol, suggests a connection with infrared radiation but does not correspond to any widely known environmental treaty controlling CFCs.

Option d, UV Protocol, refers generically to ultraviolet radiation and is not the formal name of the agreement that actually regulates ozone depleting chemicals.

Common Pitfalls:
Because CFCs are directly associated with ozone depletion, some learners may be tempted by a name that explicitly mentions them, such as CFC Protocol, without recalling the proper historical and legal title. Others might confuse Montreal Protocol with different agreements on climate change or greenhouse gases. To avoid such confusion, it is helpful to remember a simple pairing: CFC control and ozone layer protection are linked with the Montreal Protocol, while climate change gas reductions are associated with other agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol and later frameworks.

Final Answer:
The protocol signed to reduce the production of CFCs is called the Montreal Protocol.