The ozone layer recovery is recuperating. As per the 1987 Montreal Protocol, more than 99 percent of the harmful substances responsible for ozone layer depletion have been discontinued. These substances were used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and aerosol sprays.
When will the ozone layer get back on track?
According to the 2022 UN report, the ozone layer is expected to recover to its 1980s state by 2066 over Antarctica, by 2045 over the Arctic, and by 2040 outside these regions. It is worth mentioning that since the year 2000, the Antarctic ozone hole has been getting smaller.
Indications of improvement
By 2024, the ozone hole in Antarctica would register a deficit of 46.1 million tons, which is lower than the average of 1990-2020. This is an early sign of recovery, as more ozone gained means less risk of skin cancer, cataracts, and harms to the environment.
Bonus for climate – ozone layer recovery
The 2016 Kigali Agreement is aimed at HFCs reduction, the gases that are not harmful for ozone layers but are responsible for heat retention in the atmosphere and could prevent temperature increase by 0.3-0.5 degree Celsius by 2100. Experts stress that the work is not finished, so the controls must stay in place.
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