The governments of 191 countries have reached a "historic" agreement to eliminate the production and use of ozone-depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) 10 years ahead of schedule, Environment Minister John Baird said Saturday.

Delegates at an international conference held in Montreal first announced the deal to change the timetable late Friday.

Under the agreement, developed countries who signed on to the Montreal Protocol in 1987 will phase out production and use of HCFCs by 2020, instead of 2030. The phase-out for developing countries was moved from 2040 to 2030.

"The agreement to speed up the elimination of HCFCs will go down in the books as another successful chapter in the Montreal Protocol's proud and historic history," Baird told reporters, adding the deal will "stand out as a pivotal moment in the international fight against global warming."

The meeting came on the 20th anniversary of the protocol, a United Nations agreement negotiated to lower the level of chemicals blamed for destroying the ozone layer.

"It's no secret that the Montreal Protocol has had the double benefit of helping the ozone layer, and slowing devastating effects of climate change," the minister said.

"But still our planet is warming at an alarming pace, enough to cause concern in all circles. The science has shown us irrefutable evidence that HCFCs can be so potent and destructive, not just to the ozone layer, but [they] also emit destructive greenhouse gases that cause climate change."

HCFCs are found in refrigerants and aerosol cans.