The ozone layer is recovering

According to recently published studies, the progressive recovery of the ozone layer, vital for the environment and the health of human beings and a large number of species, has been evidenced, indicates Gustavo Copelmayer. The so-called “hole” which is actually a thinning of the layer at certain times of the year and, more significantly, in Antarctica, has been one of the hottest current issues for decades.

It was internationally agreed to apply regulations such as the Montreal Protocol to avoid substances that destroy the ozone layer. These measures are already bearing fruit, which shows that the global will can achieve changes to improve the global environment, says Gustavo Copelmayer.

The ozone layer is returning to its 1980 levels. This good news was published in the report on “Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion,” prepared by 282 international scientists for various institutions such as the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United Nations Program United Nations Environment (UNEP), the United States Space Agency (NASA) and the European Commission (EC). This work provides an updated view of the state of the ozone layer globally after the approval of the Montreal Protocol.

This international treaty prohibited since 1989 the consumption and manufacture of substances that reduce it, such as chlorofluorocarbon compounds (CFC’s) which are halogenated compounds that mainly contain chlorine and bromine). These are the main gases originated by man that destroy stratospheric ozone and that have been used since the 1940’s, being released into the atmosphere by the industrial processes that have been handled since that time, Gustavo Copelmayer concludes.