New report shows ozone may be restoring. What does this mean?
Fantastic news! You may have heard that a new report by the UN, US, and EU agencies has just been released and it shows that the ozone layer, which protects us from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun, has been slowly improving. But how so? Let us break it down for you.
What is the ozone layer?
The ozone layer is a very important part of the Earth’s atmosphere that helps protect us from harmful UV radiation from the sun. UV radiation can damage our DNA and cause sunburn, which can increase the risk of skin cancer.
History of ozone layer depletion
In the 1970s, people started to notice that the ozone layer was depleting, or getting thinner. Scientists figured out that certain chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were causing the ozone layer to thin out. CFCs were used in things like spray cans, refrigerators, foam insulation, and air conditioners.
In 1985, scientists discovered a big hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica. Two years later, 46 countries came together and signed the Montreal Protocol, which was a promise to stop using CFCs and other harmful chemicals that were damaging the ozone layer. The Montreal Protocol was the first United Nations treaty to be ratified by every single country in the world. Thanks to the Montreal Protocol, almost 99% of the chemicals that were damaging the ozone layer have now been phased out.
New report shows improvement
Even though the ozone layer has been getting better since 2000, it is still not back to normal yet. But a new report from the United Nations, the United States, and the European Union says that if we continue to follow the rules of the Montreal Protocol, the ozone layer should be fully restored to its 1980 levels by 2066 over Antarctica, 2045 over the Arctic, and in about 20 years for the rest of the world. This is great news because it means that the ozone layer will be able to protect us from harmful UV radiation again.
Saving the ozone layer has also had a positive effect on climate change. Some of the chemicals that were phased out under the Montreal Protocol are also really good at trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, which can cause the planet to warm up. By phasing out these chemicals, we have prevented up to 1 degree Celsius of warming by the middle of this century. That might not sound like a lot, but it can make a big difference in helping to slow down climate change.
We’re not out of the woods yet
However, the report also says that we need to be careful and make sure we keep following the rules of the Montreal Protocol. There are some ideas floating around about using a chemical called sulphur dioxide to try and slow down climate change, but this could actually cause the ozone layer to start depleting again. So it’s important that we keep working together to protect the ozone layer and the planet.
