Ozone Hole Over Antarctica Shrinks UN Confirms Recovery
UN Report: Antarctic Ozone Hole Shrinks, Showing Signs of Recovery
Geneva – The ozone hole over Antarctica was smaller in 2024 compared to recent years, according to a new report from the UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Experts hailed the finding as positive news for both human health and the planet.
“Today, the ozone layer is healing,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “This proves that when nations listen to science and work together, real progress is possible.”
The WMO explained in its Ozone Bulletin 2024 that last year’s smaller ozone hole was partly due to natural atmospheric conditions, which cause annual variations. However, it stressed that the overall long-term improvement is a direct result of global cooperation to phase out harmful chemicals.
The bulletin was released to mark World Ozone Day and the 40th anniversary of the Vienna Convention, the first international agreement to recognize ozone depletion as a global issue. That convention paved the way for the Montreal Protocol of 1987, which targeted ozone-depleting substances used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and aerosol sprays.
Since then, more than 99 percent of these substances have been phased out, the WMO noted. Thanks to this action, the ozone layer is projected to return to 1980 levels by the middle of this century, cutting risks of skin cancer, cataracts, and environmental damage from ultraviolet radiation.
The report found that the Antarctic ozone hole reached its maximum on September 29, 2024, with a deficit of 46.1 million tonnes—below the average recorded between 1990 and 2020. Scientists observed a slower-than-usual onset of depletion in September, followed by a relatively fast recovery afterward, which they see as a sign of steady healing.
According to the UN, the ozone layer could fully recover by 2066 over Antarctica, 2045 over the Arctic, and as early as 2040 across much of the world—if current policies remain in place.
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