Why you don’t hear about the ozone layer anymore

Finally, some good news about the environment.

In the ’80s, scientists discovered there was a hole in the ozone over the South Pole. A significant layer of gas that deflects much of the sun’s radiation was disappearing much faster than anyone expected. Projections suggested it would collapse by 2050, increasing skin cancer rates, harming crops, and destroying the marine food chain. The situation was dire. But today, we are on the path to recovery.

Dr. Susan Solomon, among other scientists, contributed key findings to understand what was depleting the ozone layer and how to address it. In this video she takes us back to her expedition to Antarctica, breaks down how we managed to fix this huge problem, and looks at our next big environmental challenge — climate change — with the unbridled optimism that drove her to fix the ozone hole.

Further reading:

To learn about the scientific discoveries by Mario J. Molina and F. Sherwood Rowland that kickstarted research into chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the ’70s, take a look at their groundbreaking paper here:

To read the 1985 paper that revealed there was an ozone hole forming over the South Pole, click here:

You can find Solomon’s 1986 paper on her Antarctica expedition here:

To read more of Solomon’s work, check out her publications here:

To understand the Montreal Protocol in more detail, read the United Nations Environment Programme’s summary here:

[Vox]

Thanks so much for watching our video! Let us know what you think in the comments below.

[PlanetaryFacts]

One day, I hope to see a video like this explaining why we no longer hear about climate change.

[flora]

It feels amazing to hear something positive about the environment for once

[imjustsaying]

The whole world owes Dr. Susan a huge thank you. A big one

[encouragingword]

I am curious as to why this victory over a depleting ozone layer has not been more publicized?

[Queening]

as soon as i watched this i was like "just another fact contributing to human's extinction" but as soon as j heard that its healing, i genuinely thought it was a joke. I cannot believe us humans actually stopped a huge problem like this. We need to keep doing this.

[Davethreshold]

YES! I distinctly remember when they quit using refrigerant R12 in ALL air conditioners. It happened very quickly. We complained about air-cons not being as cold as they used to be, but when that hole started filling in we were very glad to be a part of it!

[simonr]

what's odd is that in australia we were told that we get sunburnt so easily and quickly because of the ozone layer hole. but we get burnt faster/worse now, than back in the period from late 80's onwards.

[shokimo]

I literally expected the reason to be: "Because we lost the fight years ago." Since when is it healing? That’s amazing!

[hamsterdam]

I hope we get “why we don’t hear about climate change anymore” video in the near future

[ReptilezDzn]

its great that we made this effort all over the world, im just stuck thinking about the question "Why was the hole in ozone hole just over antarctica, where not many people live, feels like the hole should be somewhere else

[TechiesUnofficial]

One day, I hope to see a video like this explaining why we no longer hear about war.

[mbgal]

Imagine a time when people believed science and cared about the environment.

[itsbeiko]

This is wild. Literally today I was thinking of how much we heard about the ozone layer as kids and how it’s not talked about anymore and now this video is on my feed

[jmace]

All air pollution has been reduced by 65-70% since the 80s. The air is much, MUCH cleaner than it was 50 or 100 years ago. This is the success that is never discussed.

[onivlesumlasniulos]

i remembered that ozone layer was one of the most specific science subject was put into our grades syllabus. The ozone layer explained that by using certain product can caused the ozone layer to teared apart. It even made into a subject for younger generation. Which i think they needed to emphasis this matter more than just why and the impact. But also the substances involves in it that let them know more about it. What can be done in a project to mitigate besides watching our government solve it but make a project where anyone who can solve the issues scientifically can be rewarded like how they reward a spaceship inventions.

[DarthVader-gpkr]

Shout out to the scientists who discovered the problem and proposed a solution and shout out to the media who communicated it to the people. You guys really saved the world.

[martijn]

I guess she needed to add a fourth P to the story: Producers. Back then they directly attacked the producers of the chemical, and therefore went straight to the source. These days the narrative is aimed at the consumers and personal responsibility, a narrative invented by stakeholders such as BP. This ensured that for decades the big players stayed out of the picture. Change isn't possible if that remains the case.

[SgtJoeSmith]

i like how they showed steam (water vapor) at the nuclear plant at the end like that was a problem. the plant is creating rain for areas east of it. plus clean energy.

[jamesmatheson]

In Western Australia, you use to be able to go out in the sun for hours without burning, now you are lucking if you can go out for 15 - 30 minutes without burning, its now Spring and even days of 23C feel like the sunlight is burning, we get to 40+C in Summer time.