Ozone depletion has levelled off
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25th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol logo
Although the depletion of the ozone layer that protects the earth from the sun's harmful rays is still happening, it has levelled off.
That's according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which attributes this success to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
WMO says that globally, the protocol is estimated to have prevented over 20 million more cases of cancer and 130 million more cases of eye cataracts.
Geir Braathen, a senior Scientific Officer at WMO, says the treaty has been a success because ozone-depleting substances have been phased out and their production and consumption banned.
"This has prevented a major environmental disaster. Globally, the ozone depletion has levelled off. We haven't really seen any kind of unequivocal ozone recovery yet. Ozone is still low but ozone depletion has stopped. We can say it has levelled off, but particularly in the Polar Regions we see still every year, especially in the Antarctica we see major ozone depletion. Also this year as we speak, ozone depletion is going on.” (Duration: 26")
The 25th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol, which is hailed as the most successful treaty in United Nations history, is being celebrated on Sunday, 16 September.
