The Ozone Layer Is Healing, But There’s a Hidden Catch
A new study by an international team of researchers, including MIT scientists, found that emissions from industrial feedstocks are delaying the recovery of the ozone layer by around seven years. The Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987, has driven a global phaseout of ozone-depleting substances, but an exemption for feedstock use is now hindering progress.
The Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987, has driven a global phaseout of ozone-depleting substances. However, an exemption for feedstock use is now hindering progress. Recent measurements show higher levels of ozone-depleting substances in the atmosphere than expected. A new study by an international team, including MIT researchers, found that if current emissions continue, the return of the ozone layer could be delayed by roughly seven years. The researchers, published in Nature Communications, quantified the effect of emissions from feedstocks used to produce plastics and nonstick coatings. Limiting both the use of these feedstocks and the amount that escapes into the atmosphere will be increasingly important.
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