UN: Ozone layer is recovering and hole could disappear in the coming decades

The UN has announced that the ozone layer is recovering, and the hole that forms annually over Antarctica could disappear completely in the coming decades. The information was confirmed by a bulletin from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which shows that in 2024 its size was smaller than in recent years.

• The crucial role of the ozone layer

The ozone layer filters dangerous ultraviolet radiation, which can cause skin cancer, affect the immune system and damage the DNA of living beings. Without its protection, ecosystems and human health would be seriously endangered.

• From crisis to progress

The problem of ozone layer depletion was identified in the mid-1970s, when chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) - used in aerosols and refrigerators - were proven to be the main causes. These substances have led to the appearance of the famous "holes”, the most serious of which is over Antarctica.

• International cooperation, the key to success

The Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987, gradually banned substances that destroy the ozone layer. According to the WMO, more than 99% of the consumption and production of these chemicals have been eliminated, which has allowed the recovery process. The WMO estimates that the ozone layer will return to 1980 levels by the middle of this century. Specifically, by 2040 globally, by 2045 over the Arctic and by around 2066 over the Antarctic. This evolution would considerably reduce the risks of skin cancer, cataracts and ecosystem degradation.

• A lesson in global action

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed that "the ozone layer is healing” and that the example of this success shows how important measures based on scientific consensus and international cooperation are.