Meet Vic Buxton, the man who played a lead role in saving the Earth’s ozone layer

Submitted by James Riordan

Well known as a motivator of multi-disciplinary teams, Vic Buxton had a highly successful 27-year career with Environment Canada. Spending a total of 35 years in the public service, he has worked to solve many highly technical environmental issues both in Canada and across the world.

Vic is a chemist, chemical engineer and has a Master’s Degree in civil engineering. In 1966, he joined the Ontario Water Resources Commission (later known as the Ontario Ministry of the Environment). In his early days in this role, he became the negotiator for the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

Recruited by Environment Canada during its formation in 1971, one of Vic's first tasks was to develop environmental protection regulations. He wrote early regulations to reduce and restrict many harmful chemicals (including PCBs) and phosphates in laundry detergents that were causing algae blooms in Lake Erie.

Vic represented Environment Canada during multiple international agreements. He led a team that developed regulations for the disposal of sewage and wastes at sea under the International Convention for Prevention of Pollution from Ships (known as the Marpol Convention of 1973). Vic traveled to Kuwait, upon the request of the International Maritime Organization, to teach oil spill prevention and clean-up techniques to the Regional Organization for Protection of the Marine Environment.

Vic was Canada’s chief negotiator for the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. This international agreement was designed to protect Earth’s stratospheric ozone layer by stopping the production and consumption of substances that were known to deplete it; thereby exposing our earth to harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. With every member-state ratifying the treaty, the United Nations recognizes the Montreal Protocol as the most successful treaty in UN history. Over 30 years, parties to the protocol have phased out 98% of their ozone depleting substances. As a result the ozone layer is showing the first signs of recovery.

Vic served as Canada’s chief technical negotiator on environmental matters for the United Nations’s Earth Summit held in Brazil in June 1992. He was Canada’s chief negotiator during the preparatory phase of the summit, where he brought government, Indigenous Peoples, non-government organizations and the private sector together on key issues. Vic held sensitive, consensus-building consultations during the summit that led to an agreement on the Climate Change Convention and a commitment to respect the lands and culture of Indigenous Peoples.

After retiring from Environment Canada, Vic was a consultant to the World Bank, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and the Global Environment Facility. He assisted emerging economies with the development of environmental programs and regulations. Under contract to UN agencies, Vic has worked in and/or presented to 79 countries including Azerbaijan, Egypt, Ghana, Hungary, Jordan, Kuwait, Moldova, Nepal, Tunisia, Vietnam and Zambia.

Vic has been widely acknowledged for his extensive contributions through many awards and honours including:

• Environment Canada Award of Excellence (1987)
• UNEP Citation of Excellence (1988)
• Government of Canada (Service Wide) Award of Excellence (1989)
• Canada 125 medal Winner (1993)
• Austrian Government Ozone layer Protection Prize (1995)
• USA EPA Ozone Award (1996)
• Bretton Woods Award (1997) (an American award created in 1983 by the US Cabinet Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Treasury)

Vic’s hard work has made measurable differences in the quality of life for current and future generations worldwide.