For once, the planet has some good news to share. After decades of international cooperation, the ozone layer, the invisible shield of gas that protects life on Earth from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, is starting to recover. Scientists say that if this progress continues, the ozone layer could be fully restored from the 1980s by the middle of this century (New Atlas).

The story of how we reached this point began in the 1970s and 1980s. Researchers discovered a serious issue in the atmosphere: a thinning layer of ozone over Antarctica. They traced the cause to man-made chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, which were present in everyday products like refrigerators, aerosol sprays, and air conditioners. When scientists realized these substances were damaging the planet’s natural shield, they raised the alarm.

In 1985, countries united under the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, the first international agreement focused on environmental cooperation. Two years later, it turned into the Montreal Protocol, which required countries to phase out ozone-depleting substances. The United Nations has called it a significant example of multilateral success, showing what can happen when nations act based on science and work together (UN). 

The results have been remarkable so far. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which monitors the state of the ozone later, the hole over Antarctica in 2024 was smaller than it had been in years. Ozone levels across most of the planet were higher than the average from 2003 to 2022, and scientists predict that full recovery will occur between 2040 and 2066, depending on the region (Scientific American). “It takes a long time to heal stratospheric ozone,” said environmental policy expert Durwood Zaelke, “but the process is moving in the right direction.”

The Montreal Protocol not only focused on ozone protection, but it also laid the groundwork for tackling climate change. In 2016, the Kigali Amendment was introduced, aimed at reducing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are substances that replaced CFCs in cooling technologies. While HFCs don’t harm the ozone layer, they still trap heat in the atmosphere. By phasing them down, the world could prevent up to half a degree Celsius of global warming by 2100 (UN). 

This progress shows that global cooperation can work. The near-elimination of ozone-depleting chemicals demonstrates that when countries respect scientific discoveries and hold each other accountable, they can fix significant environmental damage. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called it multilateralism at its very best, reminding us that global problems need global solutions (UN). Gavin Esqueda (11) expands on this, saying that “Global cooperation would without a doubt help solve today’s climate change problems. With a sharing of resources and even economic funds to territories most at risk, like islands, I believe it’s very possible to halt or even reverse the effects of climate change.”

The recovery of the ozone layer is certainly a sign of hope for other problems we deal with today. It proves that, as a global society, we can actually fix the damage we have done when we trust science and take action together. However, it’s important to note that although we have taken the right steps toward environmental protection, the fight is far from over. Gabby Wong (11) warns that “Humans should always be considerate of the effects our actions can have on the planet. Recovery may just be a step in progress, but it does not mean we should stop caring about a place where billions live.”