In 1987, nearly 200 countries signed the landmark Montreal Protocol, promising to limit their emissions of “ozone-depleting substances” in an effort to slow the thinning of the planet’s ozone layer.
The agreement is widely hailed as one of the most successful environmental treaties ever implemented.
Today, nearly 99% of banned ozone-depleting substances, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), have been phased out and the ozone layer is on track to fully recover in the coming decades.
The treaty has also brought unexpected benefits since many of the chemicals banned under the agreement are powerful greenhouse gases and, by limiting their emissions, the Montreal Protocol has already averted around 0.5C of global warming.
The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, finds that the Montreal Protocol had averted more than half a million square kilometers of Arctic summer sea ice loss by 2020 by limiting warming in the region.
“I think this should give us hope”, the lead author of the study tells Carbon Brief. He says the Montreal Protocol was successful because the international community took “really quick action”, adding that its success “should encourage us that action on climate is possible”.


For more information:
Montreal Protocol has slowed loss of Arctic sea ice, say scientists - Carbon Brief
The protocol aims to reduce emissions of ozone-depleting gases and has had the unexpected benefit of slowing Arctic sea ice loss, according to new research.
https://www.carbonbrief.org/montreal-protocol-has-slowed-loss-of-arctic-sea-say-scientists/


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15 h
This is encouraging
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1 d
One more example showing that when countries get together and act on an issue, it can lead to good positive outcomes!!!!!!
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2 d
That's great
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2 d
Awesome... We should have more of such policies and agreements
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2 d
So encouraging
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2 d
This is soo touching and encouraging the best way to care for our environment kudos! For the agreement
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2 d
Great news