THE United Nations announced that the Earth’s protective ozone layer is showing steady signs of recovery and could return to pre-1980 levels by the middle of this century, crediting international cooperation for the progress.
A new bulletin from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) revealed that the Antarctic ozone hole in 2024 was smaller than in recent years — a development described as “welcome scientific news for people’s and planetary health.”
“Today, the ozone layer is healing,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement. “This achievement reminds us that when nations heed the warnings of science, progress is possible.”
The WMO explained that while natural atmospheric factors contributed to short-term fluctuations, the long-term improvement clearly reflects the success of global efforts to phase out ozone-depleting substances (ODS).
The findings coincided with World Ozone Day and the 40th anniversary of the Vienna Convention, the first international treaty to address ozone depletion.
The landmark 1987 Montreal Protocol, which followed, has led to the elimination of over 99 percent of controlled ODS used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and aerosol products.
According to the WMO, the ozone layer’s recovery will help reduce risks of skin cancer, cataracts, and ecosystem damage caused by excessive ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
In 2024, the Antarctic ozone hole reached a maximum mass deficit of 46.1 million tons, which is below the long-term average from 1990 to 2020.
Scientists noted a delayed onset of depletion and a relatively fast recovery afterward, calling it a “robust indication” of early-stage healing.
The UN’s latest scientific assessment projects that the ozone layer will recover to 1980 levels by around 2040 in most parts of the world, by 2045 over the Arctic, and by 2066 over the Antarctic, provided current policies remain in force.