The ozone layer is recovering

Good News, Everyone: The Ozone Layer is on the Mend!

Remember when we were all worried about the ozone layer? Well, breathe a sigh of relief, because there’s some seriously good news on that front. It turns out that Earth’s natural sunscreen, the ozone layer, is actually recovering! It’s like the planet is finally healing itself, and a big part of that is thanks to something called the Montreal Protocol.

Think of the Montreal Protocol as a global pact, a handshake agreement between all the nations of the world to fix a problem we created together. Back in the day, we were pumping out all sorts of chemicals – CFCs, anyone? – that were used in everything from refrigerators to hairspray. Turns out, these chemicals were eating away at the ozone layer, especially over Antarctica. The Montreal Protocol, finalized in 1987, was basically the world saying, “Okay, we messed up. Let’s stop using this stuff.” And guess what? It worked! It’s been amended several times since then, adapting to new scientific findings as they emerged, and even tackling climate change with the Kigali Amendment which addressed HFCs, potent greenhouse gasses. Fun fact: it’s the only treaty ever to be ratified by every single country on Earth. As Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General, put it, it’s “perhaps the single most successful international agreement to date.” Pretty cool, huh?

So, how do we know it’s working? Well, scientists have been keeping a close eye on the “ozone hole” over Antarctica. Now, the ozone hole isn’t actually a hole, like you could fall through it. It’s more like a really bad sunburn on the atmosphere, an area where the ozone layer gets dangerously thin. The measurement scientists use is called a Dobson Unit, and anything below 220 is considered part of the “hole.” NASA and NOAA have been tracking this for years, and the data is clear: the hole is shrinking.

I remember reading about the ozone hole getting bigger and bigger back in the 90s, and honestly, it was terrifying! But in 2024, the greatest extent of the hole was on September 28, measuring 22.4 million square kilometers. That sounds huge, and it is still significant, but it’s actually the seventh smallest it’s been since we started seeing recovery in 1992. The monthly average for the ozone-depleted region in Antarctica in 2024 was almost 20 million square kilometers, nearly three times the size of the contiguous U.S.

The best part? Scientists are predicting that if we stick to the plan, the ozone layer should be back to its 1980 levels around 2040 for most of the world. The Arctic should be healed by 2045, and even Antarctica should be back to normal by 2066. That’s like, in our kids’ lifetime!

Now, it’s not all sunshine and roses. Some of those old ozone-depleting substances are still floating around up there, and they can linger for years. Plus, there are still old appliances and materials out there that could be leaking these chemicals. And, of course, nature can throw us curveballs, like the volcanic eruption in Tonga in 2022, which unexpectedly thinned ozone concentrations by 30%.

But overall, this is a huge win. A healthy ozone layer means less harmful UV radiation reaching the ground, which translates to lower risks of skin cancer, cataracts, and a whole host of other problems. It also protects our ecosystems, our crops, and the tiny creatures in the ocean that form the base of the food chain.

The story of the ozone layer is a powerful reminder that we can fix big environmental problems when we work together, listen to the science, and put effective policies in place. It’s a beacon of hope, showing us that even when things look bleak, we have the power to turn things around and create a healthier planet for ourselves and future generations. So, let’s celebrate this victory, and keep working towards a brighter, healthier future for all!