Global Scans · Ozone depletion · Weekly Summary

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A global catastrophic risk is a hypothetical future event that has the potential to damage human well-being on a global scale. Some events could cripple or destroy modern civilization. Any event that could cause human extinction is known as an existential risk.

• [New] Man-made emissions of nitrous oxide are rapidly increasing globally and are predicted to pose a growing threat to Earth's ozone layer. phys.org
• [New] While international policies like the Montreal Protocol have successfully reduced ozone-depleting chemicals, new challenges - including global warming and increasing methane emissions, could influence the pace of ozone recovery. SciTechDaily
• [New] SDGs & socioeconomic co - benefits - Reducing methane emissions by 30% below 2020 levels by 2030 could avoid roughly 6 million premature deaths per year due to ozone exposure and about 1,600 billion lost work hours per year due to heat exposure. Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
• NASA will share data on atmospheric concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde and ozone with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency to improve air quality forecasts. SpaceNews
• If a planet has high levels of radiation not absorbed by an ozone, that might result in subterranean life that uses soil as protection. Live Science
• In the future, cooling will be even more energy efficient with reduced environmental impact as the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment speed the transition to refrigerants that do not deplete the ozone layer and have lower contribution to global warming. United Nations Environment Programme
• The buildup of nitrogen oxides and metal particulates in the mesosphere and upper stratosphere could disrupt climate patterns and hinder the recovery of the ozone layer, which could have long-term effects on Earth's atmosphere and environment. TechnoSports Media Group
• The climate impact of hydrogen leakage is non-negligible and could affect climate-warming greenhouse gases such as tropospheric ozone and methane, with the impact of methane being particularly significant. Hoodline
• With the increasing depletion of the ozone layer, more UV radiation will enter the earth's atmosphere, and people with fair skin who lack melanin pigmentation will be at increasing risk. Mercator
• From chaotic collisions to depletion of the ozone layer, the thousands of satellites in orbit around Earth have the potential to wreak havoc in coming decades. The Guardian
• Global efforts to prevent ozone-depleting substances entering the atmosphere, driven by the 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, should see ozone levels return to 1980 levels by around 2066 over Antarctica, and 2045 over the Arctic. The National Tribune
• Ozone Action Days are called when the Air Quality Index is forecast to reach unhealthy levels due to a combination of ozone, wildfire smoke and other pollutants. The Denver Post
• In Los Angeles, a scenario with a 29% EV share for light-duty vehicles could save 104 lives each month, but full electrification could increase mortality in Los Angeles due to higher PM2.5 and ozone levels. phys.org
• As global temperatures increase, air pollution will likely worsen as hot and sunny skies increase ground-level ozone and wildfires become more common. Urban Health Collaborative
• F. 3 that could occur with broad use, given the reactivity of VOC and its potential to contribute to ground-level ozone in areas like Los Angeles. Federal Register
• The global warming potential of an HFC can be hundreds to thousands of times that of carbon dioxide, and their use has rapidly increased worldwide due to the global phaseout of ozone-depleting substances and increased demand for refrigeration and air conditioning. Chemistry World
• The 1987 Montreal Protocol successfully regulated ozone-damaging CFCs to protect the ozone layer, shrinking the ozone hole over Antarctica with recovery expected in the next fifty years. SciTechDaily
• Mega satellite constellations such as SpaceX's Starlink spew copious amounts of aluminium oxide gas in the atmosphere that could deplete the ozone layer. The Independent
• While the Montreal Protocol was introduced to safeguard stratospheric ozone through the phaseout of consumption and production of long-lived CFCs, which have high global warming potentials, it has avoided substantial global warming 4, 5. Nature
• DEC and DOH issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter, are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index value of 100. Department of Environmental Conservation
• The 1987 Montreal Protocol successfully regulated ozone-damaging CFCs to protect the ozone layer, shrinking the ozone hole over Antarctica with recovery expected within fifty years. phys.org
• A recent investigation reveals a concerning forecast for ozone pollution levels across the United States by 2050, indicating potential non-compliance with air quality standards and increased public health risks. earth.com
• A new study finds climate change is likely to make upward spikes of ozone at ground level worse by 2050, which could result in many parts of the United States falling out of compliance with air quality standards and increasing risks to public health. NC State News

Last updated: 31 March 2025