CFCs have been outlawed for years but researchers have detected new production somewhere in east AsiaA sharp and mysterious rise in emissions of a key ozone-destroying chemical has been detected by scientists, despite its production being banned around the world. Unless the culprit is found and stopped, the recovery of the ozone layer, which protects life on Earth from damaging UV radiation, could be delayed by a decade. But they were banned under the global Montreal protocol after the discovery of the ozone hole over Antarctica in the 1980s. But they ruled this out too, as the quantities involved are too high, representing a 25% rise in global emissions. “If the increased emissions were to go away [soon], it’s influence on the recovery date for the ozone layer would be minor,” he said.

Source: The Guardian May 16, 2018 16:52 UTC