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🗞️ Driving the news: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirms the ozone layer is on track for full recovery, according to its latest Ozone and UV Bulletin
• This progress is largely due to the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment, which phased out ozone-depleting substances and reduced hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), key contributors to climate change
• The UN anticipates the ozone layer could fully recover by 2040 globally, 2045 over the Arctic, and 2066 over the Antarctic
🔭 The context: The Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987, was a landmark agreement that banned harmful chemicals such as CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)
• Its 2016 Kigali Amendment targeted HFCs, crucial for both ozone recovery and climate mitigation
• WMO stresses the importance of ongoing ozone monitoring to ensure the recovery stays on track
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Restoring the ozone layer is vital for protecting life on Earth from harmful UV radiation, while the Kigali Amendment also addresses climate change by targeting potent greenhouse gases
⏭️ What's next: Continued global cooperation and strict policy enforcement are needed to sustain the ozone recovery and address variables such as volcanic eruptions that can temporarily impact the ozone layer
💬 One quote: “The Protocol’s Kigali Amendment... can contribute to advancing climate mitigation efforts, protecting people and planet,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres
📈 One stat: The ozone layer is expected to recover to 1980 levels by 2066 over the Antarctic, 2045 over the Arctic, and 2040 for the rest of the world
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