Ozone Recovery.

Science/Business | Konor Nichols | January 18th, 2023.

A recent United Nations (UN) report revealed a glimmer of hope for the environment. The report shared that there has been a slow yet steady improvement in the Earth’s Ozone layer, a gaseous layer of the atmosphere that acts as a barrier from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. 

Fear and panic began surrounding the health of the Ozone layer in the mid-1980s when scientists discovered a gaping “hole” over Antarctica–not a literal hole, but a significantly thinned section of the Ozone layer that dropped far below historical norms. Eventually, this issue was linked to human activities, such as releasing harmful gasses like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which are commonly found in aerosols and refrigerants. 

The recent rebound of the Ozone layer came as a result of the success of the Montreal Protocol, which was initially put into practice in 1987. This agreement aimed to regulate and cut down on the number of harmful chemicals put out into the atmosphere, and it definitely delivered on this goal. Meg Seki, Executive Secretary of the UN Environment Programme, deemed the Montreal Protocol to be a “true champion for the environment.” 

According to the new UN report, the Ozone hole should continue to shrink going forward and be back at 1980 standards by 2040. Such a feat should be considered “an encouraging example of what the world can achieve when we work together," as put by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and provide us with the confidence needed to continue battling the ongoing Climate Crisis in the future.