what’s going on on the planet

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are purely artificial gases used in a variety of fields, including refrigeration, air conditioning or chemical solvents. Since the 1980s, they have been increasingly regulated by a series of international agreements that they have a detrimental effect on the ozone layer, without which the planet will simply die.

The 1987 Montreal Protocol, which was unanimously ratified, limited the release of CFCs into the atmosphere and their production in general. This has worked well for many ozone-depleting substances, so the ozone layer is slowly recovering.

The recent increase in the concentration of five CFVs in the atmosphere is quite surprising and alarming. Fortunately, their effects on the ozone layer have so far been minor, resulting in an insignificant loss of about 0.002 percent of global stratospheric ozone. But researchers don’t understand where these gases come from or how quickly they can worsen the condition. Additionally, it should be noted that all five CFCs are potent greenhouse gases and remain in the atmosphere for tens or even centuries after they are released, warming the planet.

Scientists are already looking for the source of the emissions.