United Nations: The ozone layer is healing and the ozone hole will disappear soon

In a news that brings global optimism, the United Nations announced that the ozone layer, the protective shield of the Earth from harmful ultraviolet rays, is on its way to complete recovery, expecting that the "ozone hole" will disappear in the coming decades.

According to a report issued by the World Meteorological Organization of the United Nations, the ozone hole over Antarctica was smaller in 2024 compared to previous years, a encouraging sign of the success of international efforts to protect the atmosphere.

"The ozone layer is healing today. This is strong evidence that progress is possible when countries heed the warnings of science and commit to collective action."

The credit goes to the Montreal Protocol, the historic international agreement signed in 1987, which successfully reduced the production and consumption of more than 99% of ozone-depleting chemicals, especially chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that were used in refrigeration and aerosol products.

And although natural weather factors played a partial role in the reduction of ozone depletion in 2024, scientists point out that the positive trend over decades reflects the success of coordinated international efforts.

According to the latest estimates:

• 2066: The hole will disappear over Antarctica

• 2045: Recovery over the Arctic

• 2040: Ozone returning to 1980 levels in the rest of the world

This is if countries continue to implement current policies without regression.

The ozone layer absorbs dangerous ultraviolet rays coming from the sun, which can cause:

_ Skin cancer

_ Cataracts

_ Weakened immune system

_ Damage to the DNA of living organisms

_ Degradation of ecosystems

Therefore, the recovery of this layer means better protection for human health and safeguarding the global environment.

It was discovered in the 1970s that industrial chemicals, especially CFCs, lead to ozone thinning, causing annual holes in the layer, most notably over Antarctica.

Ozone depletion peaked on September 29, 2024, but it was lower than the average during the period between 1990 and 2020, which is a strong indication of the gradual reduction in the size of the hole.

The recovery of the ozone layer is not just an environmental achievement, but a living model of scientific success and international cooperation that can inspire us all to face the challenges of climate change and pollution.