Context
- What happened: WMO released its Ozone Bulletin (Sept 16, 2025) stating that Earth’s ozone layer is on track to return to 1980 levels by mid-century.
- Why in news: Ozone hole over Antarctica in 2024 was smaller than in recent years, with delayed onset and faster recovery.
- Background:
- Vienna Convention (1985) → Framework for cooperation.
- Montreal Protocol (1987) → Landmark treaty phasing out ozone-depleting substances (ODS).
- Kigali Amendment (2016) → Phasing down HFCs, with climate co-benefits.
Relevance
- GS2: Global governance, environmental treaties, multilateral institutions.
- GS3: Environment, ozone depletion, climate change mitigation, technology innovation.
Key Facts & Data
- ODS phase-out: Montreal Protocol eliminated 99% of controlled ODS.
- Projected Recovery Timelines:
- Antarctica → 2066
- Arctic → 2045
- Rest of the world → 2040
- Ozone hole 2024:
- Max mass deficit: 46.1 million tonnes (Sept 29, 2024).
- Smaller than 2020–23 holes, below 1990–2020 average.
- Health & Environment Benefits: Prevents skin cancer, cataracts, ecosystem damage.
- Kigali Amendment: Ratified by 164 parties, expected to prevent 0.5°C warming by 2100.
Significance / Implications
(a) Polity & Governance
- Case study in effective multilateralism → science-based policy, global cooperation, compliance mechanisms.
- Demonstrates how binding treaties + financial/technological support deliver results.
(b) Economy
- Transition away from ODS spurred green innovation in refrigeration, air conditioning, foam, aerosols.
- HFC phase-down under Kigali → integrates climate mitigation with industry regulation.
(c) Society & Health
- Reduced risks of skin cancer & cataracts.
- Protects agriculture and marine ecosystems from UV damage.
(d) Environment & Climate
- Ozone recovery = resilience of Earth systems when stressors are reduced.
- Kigali adds climate co-benefit, showing overlap between ozone diplomacy and climate diplomacy.
Critical Analysis
- Article’s core tone: Positive, celebratory of multilateral success.
- Counter-arguments / Missing Dimensions:
- Monitoring gaps: Need vigilance against illegal ODS production (e.g., CFC-11 emissions detected in 2018).
- Replacement chemicals: HFCs are non-ODS but strong GHGs, requiring parallel climate strategies.
- Equity concerns: Developing nations need technology transfer & finance for sustainable transitions.
- Ethical dimension: Global cooperation worked here → raises the question why climate change talks lag compared to ozone diplomacy.
Conclusion
- Multilateral treaties like the Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment demonstrate effective science-driven global governance and environmental recovery.
- Lessons from ozone recovery highlight the importance of technology transfer, monitoring, and equitable global cooperation for broader climate challenges.
Ozone Layer: Value Additions
- Function: Protects life on Earth by absorbing harmful UV-B radiation, reducing skin cancer, cataracts, and DNA damage.
- Montreal Protocol (1987): Landmark treaty that phased out ozone-depleting substances (CFCs, halons); considered a global environmental success story.
- Vienna Convention (1985): Framework for international cooperation on ozone protection.
- Kigali Amendment (2016): Phasing down HFCs (not ODS but potent greenhouse gases) → climate co-benefits, reduces global warming by ~0.5°C by 2100.
- Recovery Projections:
- Antarctica → 2066
- Arctic → 2045
- Rest of the world → 2040
- Health & Environment Benefits: Lower UV exposure protects human health, agriculture, marine ecosystems, and biodiversity.
- Multilateral Diplomacy: Demonstrates effective science-based global governance; model for climate cooperation.
- Technology & Economy: Stimulated green innovation in refrigeration, air conditioning, and industrial processes.
- Monitoring & Challenges: Vigilance required against illegal ODS production; replacement chemicals (HFCs) need climate-conscious management.
- Equity & Ethics: Developing countries need technology transfer and finance for sustainable compliance; showcases global cooperation effectiveness.
