OZONE LAYER

Recent Findings by UN report:

UN Environment and the World Meteorological Organization released the four-yearly review of the Montreal Protocol. Its key findings are –

1. There is a long-term decrease in the atmospheric abundance of controlled ozone-depleting substances.
   
   
2. Infact, Ozone layer in parts of the stratosphere has recovered at a rate of 1-3% per decade since 2000, reversing years of dangerous depletion caused by the release of harmful chemicals.
   
   
3. The Antarctic Ozone Hole is recovering, while continuing to occur every year. It is expected to gradually close, returning to 1980 levels in the 2060s.
   
   
4. At projected rates, Northern Hemisphere and mid-latitude ozone is scheduled to heal completely by the 2030s followed by the Southern Hemisphere in the 2050s and Polar Regions by 2060.
   
   
5. However, while most of the banned gases have been phased out, there is an unexpected increase in production and emissions of CFC-11 from eastern Asia since 2012, which is a violation of the protocol.
   
   

Comment:

• The UN had already hailed the success of the Montreal Protocol, but the report said it was the first time that there were emerging indications that the Antarctic ozone hole had diminished in size and depth since 2000.