Ozone action on track, helping avoid 0.5C of global warming by 2100 says UNEP

Ozone recovery is back on track says the latest UNEP assessment report on ozone depletion and recovery.

Rogue emissions from China of ozone-depleting chemicals had threatened to delay recovery by a decade. But the emissions were stopped, says the New York Times.

“That ozone recovery is on track according to the latest quadrennial report is fantastic news. The impact the Montreal Protocol has had on climate change mitigation cannot be overstressed. Over the last 35 years, the Protocol has become a true champion for the environment,” said Meg Seki, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Ozone Secretariat. “The assessments and reviews undertaken by the Scientific Assessment Panel remain a vital component of the work of the Protocol that helps inform policy and decision makers.”

The 2016 Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, requires phase down of production and consumption of many hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). HFCs do not directly deplete ozone, but are powerful climate climate change gases. The Scientific Assessment Panel said this amendment is estimated to avoid 0.3–0.5°C of warming by 2100 (this does not include contributions from HFC-23 emissions). “Ozone action sets a precedent for climate action. Our success in phasing out ozone-eating chemicals shows us what can and must be done – as a matter of urgency – to transition away from fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse gases and so limit temperature increase,” said WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas.

From the report Executive Summary;

A. Major achievements of the Montreal Protocol

• Actions taken under the Montreal Protocol continued to decrease atmospheric abundances of controlled ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) and advance the recovery of the stratospheric ozone layer. The atmospheric abundances of both total tropospheric chlorine and total tropospheric bromine from long-lived ODSs have continued to decline since the 2018 Assessment. New studies support previous Assessments in that the decline in ODS emissions due to compliance with the Montreal Protocol avoids global warming of approximately 0.5–1 °C by mid-century compared to an extreme scenario with an uncontrolled increase in ODSs of 3–3.5% per year.
• Actions taken under the Montreal Protocol continue to contribute to ozone recovery. Recovery of ozone in the upper stratosphere is progressing. Total column ozone (TCO) in the Antarctic continues to recover, notwithstanding substantial interannual variability in the size, strength, and longevity of the ozone hole. Outside of the Antarctic region (from 90°N to 60°S), the limited evidence of TCO recovery since 1996 has low confidence. TCO is expected to return to 1980 values around 2066 in the Antarctic, around 2045 in the Arctic, and around 2040 for the near-global average (60°N–60°S). The assessment of the depletion of TCO in regions around the globe from 1980–1996 remains essentially unchanged since the 2018 Assessment.

• Compliance with the 2016 Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which requires phase down of production and consumption of some hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), is estimated to avoid 0.3–0.5°C of warming by 2100. This estimate does not include contributions from HFC-23 emissions.

B. Current Scientific and Policy Challenges

• The recent identification of unexpected CFC-11 emissions led to scientific investigations and policy responses. Observations and analyses revealed the source region for at least half of these emissions and substantial emissions reductions followed. Regional data suggest some CFC-12 emissions may have been associated with the unreported CFC-11 production. Uncertainties in emissions from banks and gaps in the observing network are too large to determine whether all unexpected emissions have ceased.
• Unexplained emissions have been identified for other ODSs (CFCs-13, 112a, 113a, 114a, 115, and CCl4), as well as HFC-23. Some of these unexplained emissions are likely occurring as leaks of feedstocks or by-products, and the remainder is not understood.
  
• Outside of the polar regions, observations and models are in agreement that ozone in the upper stratosphere continues to recover. In contrast, ozone in the lower stratosphere has not shown signs of recovery. Models simulate a small recovery in mid-latitude lower-stratospheric ozone in both hemispheres that is not seen in observations. Reconciling this discrepancy is key to ensuring a full understanding of ozone recovery.
  
• The existing network of atmospheric monitoring stations provides measurements of global surface concentrations of long-lived ODSs and HFCs resulting from anthropogenic emissions. However, gaps in regional atmospheric monitoring limit the scientific community’s ability to identify and quantify emissions of controlled substances from many source regions.
• Several space-borne instruments providing vertically resolved, global measurements of ozone-related atmospheric constituents (e.g., reactive chlorine, water vapor, and long-lived transport tracers) are due to be retired within a few years. Without replacements of these instruments, the ability to monitor and explain changes in the stratospheric ozone layer in the future will be impeded.
  
• The impact on the ozone layer of stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), which has been proposed as a possible option to offset global warming, has been assessed following the terms of reference for the 2022 SAP Assessment Report. Important potential consequences, such as deepening of the Antarctic ozone hole and delay in ozone recovery, were identified. Many knowledge gaps and uncertainties prevent a more robust evaluation at this time.
  
• Heightened concerns about influences on 21st century ozone include impacts of: further increases in nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and CO2 concentrations; rapidly expanding ODS and HFC feedstock use and emissions; climate change on TCO in the tropics; extraordinary wildfires and volcanic eruptions; increased frequency of civilian rocket launches and the emissions of a proposed new fleet of supersonic commercial aircraft

Background:

• Climate Citizen, NOVEMBER 1, 2022, Montreal Protocol continues work limiting chemicals destroying ozone layer at MOP34 https://takvera.blogspot.com/2022/11/montreal-protocol-continues-work.html

References:

• New York Times: Restoration of the Ozone Layer Is Back on Track, Scientists Say https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/09/climate/ozone-hole-restoration-montreal-protocol.html
• UNEP: Ozone layer recovery is on track, helping avoid global warming by 0.5°C https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/ozone-layer-recovery-track-helping-avoid-global-warming-05degc