Overview

• Atmospheric levels of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) peaked in 2021, five years earlier than predicted.
• The Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987, has been pivotal in reducing ozone-depleting substances.
• HCFCs, which replaced chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), are now being phased out globally by 2040.
• The reduction in HCFCs also contributes to mitigating global warming, as they are potent greenhouse gases.
• High-precision measurements from global observatories confirm the downward trend in HCFC emissions.