Geneva: The Earth’s ozone layer is on a path to full recovery, a major environmental success story, but that progress could paradoxically contribute to further global warming, new findings show. The ozone hole shrank in 2024 compared to previous years, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in a report released on Tuesday to commemorate International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.
According to Philippines News Agency, the ozone layer, Earth’s protective shield against the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, remains on track to recover and is expected to be fully restored by mid-century, the WMO report revealed. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the significance of past efforts, stating, “Forty years ago, nations came together to take the first step in protecting the ozone layer – guided by science, united in action.” Guterres added that “every fraction of a degree matters. Every action counts.”
The healing of the ozone layer is attributed to global agreements like the Vienna Convention and its Montreal Protocol, which are celebrated as landmarks of multilateral success. “Today, the ozone layer is healing,” Guterres noted. However, the same healing process, while vital for shielding life on Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation, may have an unintended side effect: intensifying global warming.
A separate study from the University of Reading found that between 2015 and 2050, ozone changes could contribute about 0.27 watts per square meter of additional warming-roughly 40% more than previous estimates. This figure suggests that ozone could become the second-largest driver of warming after carbon dioxide by mid-century.
The contradiction underscores a complex climate reality. While the successful elimination of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) has prevented millions of cases of skin cancer, cataracts, and ecosystem damage, the thickening of the ozone layer also results in trapping more heat in the atmosphere, acting as a greenhouse gas pollutant.
