The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that in 2024, the ozone hole was smaller than in 2020-2023 and below the 1990-2020 average, indicating ongoing recovery of the ozone layer.

This recovery is largely attributed to international efforts like the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which phased out the use of ozone-depleting CFCs in products such as refrigerators, air conditioners, and hairsprays.

If current policies remain in place, experts believe the ozone layer could fully recover to pre-1980 levels within a few decades, showcasing a significant environmental achievement and effective global cooperation.

However, environmental groups like Portugal's Zero warn that ozone recovery is slow, and high ultraviolet radiation levels still pose health, agricultural, and ecological risks.

Despite progress, scientists and WMO officials emphasize that continuous monitoring and regulation of ozone-depleting substances are essential to sustain and verify ongoing recovery.

Matt Tully, chair of WMO’s Scientific Advisory Group, highlighted the importance of systematic monitoring to ensure the ozone layer continues to heal.

Although political challenges, such as potential setbacks under U.S. policies, exist, the global infrastructure for ozone recovery remains resilient, with U.S. participation still crucial.

Scientists note that ozone recovery is a slow process with normal fluctuations, making consistent international cooperation and monitoring vital for continued progress.

Ozone production occurs mainly near the equator and disperses toward the poles, where recovery is slower; atmospheric factors like El Niño, solar activity, and climate change influence ozone levels.

In 2025, however, the ozone hole developed earlier and was larger than in 2024, underscoring the importance of reliable forecasts amid atmospheric variability.

The ozone layer, located 9 to 19 miles above Earth, protects life from harmful UV radiation, but human-made chemicals like CFCs have historically caused depletion by releasing chlorine and bromine.

While the ozone layer naturally exists in the stratosphere, 'bad ozone' in the lower atmosphere results from pollution and is toxic, highlighting the importance of protecting the ozone layer.

The 40th anniversary of the Vienna Convention coincided with the release of the WMO's ozone report, celebrating four decades of international cooperation in ozone protection, which has contributed to overall improvements in ozone coverage.