# The ozone layer is healing and will completely recover by 2066, according to the UN

> The ozone layer is steadily recovering and could fully heal by mid-century, the UN said. Thanks to the 1987 Montreal Protocol banning ozone-depleting chemicals, millions of skin cancer cases were prevented. The Antarcti…

Published: 2026-09-17 · Desk: Latest · Source: Earth.Org

The ozone layer, which shields the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation, has been healing since the ban on ozone-depleting chemicals in 2004. The United Nations announced on Tuesday that the ozone layer could fully recover by mid-century. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that ozone levels are steadily improving, particularly over the polar regions, where the ozone hole has shown consistent signs of shrinking.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the importance of global efforts in addressing ozone depletion. “Forty years ago, nations came together to take the first steps in protecting the ozone layer,” he said. The Montreal Protocol, adopted in 1987, is credited with banning ozone-depleting chemicals like CFCs, which has prevented millions of cases of skin cancer and cataracts. Guterres stressed that international cooperation makes such progress possible.

The Antarctic ozone hole also shows signs of recovery, though not yet fully healed. WMO scientists predict that ozone levels in most regions will return to pre-1980 levels by 2040, the Arctic by 2045, and Antarctica by 2066. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which replaced CFCs, do not damage the ozone layer, even though they contribute to climate change.

Original reporting: https://earth.org/ozone-layer-on-track-for-full-recovery-amid-recent-progress-wmo-says/?fbclid=IwY2xjawM2H-pleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFDbzhneHFsaGFrbWZlcktsAR6HInwYAybeBiSEQ8Bsck2xIdsD1-iIEJCOedccSHWs7smQEkWvSeudKtjmyw_aem_bbuglc99W2zMF7lUFv6vRQ
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