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The Earth's ozone layer is on its way to recovery and could well protect humans from the dangers ultraviolet presents, according to a summary document published by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
UNEP's and WMO's Assessment for Decision-Makers is part of the Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion 2014. It is the most comprehensive report that the two international organizations have published in four years.
According to Achim Steiner, UNEP's executive director, the summary shows that the ozone layer, that part of the stratosphere that protects the earth's inhabitants against ultraviolet rays, could have been entirely depleted if not for the Montreal Protocol and other associated environmental agreements.
UNEP said that global models show the Montreal Protocol will allow humankind to prevent the yearly disastrous and fatal effects of skin cancer of about two million by 2030.
The report shows that the Protocol has helped people avert human eye and immune system damage.
What is even more important is that the summary report found the phasing-out of ozone-depleting substance significantly helped in reversing the negative effects of global climate change that greenhouse gases caused.
Michael Jarraud, the Secretary General of WMO, said that the International action to prevent the depletion of the ozone layer is a major environmental success.
He said that the findings provide evidence to policy makers of the close relationship of the ozone layer and climate change.
Jarraud said that human activity will continue to change the composition of the atmosphere therefore crucial monitoring is still needed.
However, and despite all this, challenges still remain to ensure that the ozone layer's protection is sustained. Jarraud added that measures to protect future generations need support .
Additional research and assessment should still be done to provide scientific data that can help scientist predict environmental changes that can still occur, he concluded.
