Ozone Layer On Track To Recovery: UN Report

GENEVA: The depleting ozone layer is well on track to recovery in the next few decades because of "concerted international action", according to an assessment report by UN Enviornment Programme and World Meterological Organisation.

Ozone layer, a fragile shield of gas, protects the Earth from harmful ultra-violet rays of the sun.

The Scientific Assessement of Ozone Depletion 2014, a study done by 300 scientist across the globe, says the actions taken under the Montreal Protocol on subtances that deplete the ozone layer are "enabling the return of the ozone layer to benchmark 1980 levels".

"Compliance of the report have led to decreases in the atmospheric abundance of gases, such as CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and halons, once used in products such as refrigerators, spray cans, insulation foam and fire suppression.

"Total column ozone declined over most of the globe during the 1980s and early 1990s. It has remained relatively unchanged since 2000, but there are recent indications of its future recovery," the report said.

The treaty was designed to decrease the production and consumption of ozone depleting substances -- many of these are also potent greenhouse gases -- in order to reduce their abundance in the atmosphere, and protect the layer.

The report stated: "In 1987, ozone depleting substances contributed about 10 gigatonnes CO2-equivalent emissions per year. The Montreal Protocol has reduced these emissions by 90 per cent. This decrease is about five times larger than the annual emissions reduction target for the first commitment period (2008?2012) of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change."

UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said: "There are positive indications that the ozone layer is on track to recovery towards the middle of the century. The Montreal Protocol, one of the world's most successful environmental treaties, has protected the stratospheric ozone layer and avoided enhanced UV radiation reaching the earth's surface.

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