The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) has announced that 2025 Antarctic ozone hole came to an end on 1 December. The 2025 ozone hole was relatively small for the second consecutive year compared to the large and long-lasting ozone holes from 2020-2023, and had higher ozone concentrations, giving hope for recovery.

The event is a vindication of global efforts to preserve the ozone layer with a ban of ozone depleting substances (ODS, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)) that have put the ozone layer on the path to recovery and limited global warming by supplementary 0.5C.

Rather than putting into question the effectiveness of the ODS substances ban, the fact that we have observed large ozone holes in recent years should act as a reminder that the decline in global stratospheric ozone could have reached catastrophic levels without the concerted action of the Montreal Protocol and its subsequent amendments. It is estimated that the ODS ban will enable a recovery of the ozone layer by 2050 and 2066 in Antarctica.

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