Overview

• CAMS reports the Antarctic ozone hole reached about 21.08 million square kilometers in early September, larger than typical for this point in the season yet below historical peaks.
• Scientists note strong year‑to‑year variability, with a very large hole in 2023, an unusually small one in 2024, and 2025 tracking closer to long‑term norms.
• The WMO projects a return to pre‑1980 ozone levels by mid‑century, a recovery expected to cut risks such as skin cancer and cataracts linked to excess UV exposure.
• The Montreal Protocol has eliminated more than 99% of production and consumption of major ozone‑depleting substances, though continued monitoring is needed after past illegal emissions and the rise of some unregulated compounds.
• Experts warn that volcanic eruptions, massive wildfires, space‑debris entry and climate‑driven circulation changes can still erode ozone, with CO₂‑induced stratospheric cooling slowing some chemical loss but potentially reducing tropical ozone.