Researchers from the School of Chemistry have played a major role in the 2022 Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion, which was published in February 2023 and coordinated by the World Meteorological Organisation and the United Nations Environment Programme. 

Depletion of Earth’s ozone layer posed a major threat to the environment and human health following the widespread use of chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Since the 1980s, the Montreal Protocol – a landmark global environmental agreement – has worked to phase-out man-made gases that destroy the ozone or contribute to climate change.

The 2022 Ozone Assessment provides the most up-to-date information on the progress towards ozone layer recovery and the wider impacts of these harmful gases. The Ozone Assessment is published every four years by the world’s leading scientists in the field and is a vital assessment of recent developments for the parties to the Montreal Protocol and the wider scientific community interested in the Earth’s protective ozone layer.

Significant contributions were made from researchers in the School of Chemistry. One chapter, concerning the climate-warming hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and their replacements, was led by Professor Matt Rigby and co-authored by Dr Kieran Stanley, while a chapter on ozone depleting substances was co-authored by Dr Luke Western and reviewed by Professor Simon O’Doherty. All four researchers contributed to additional chapters within the Assessment.

In addition to the authorship contributions, several areas of research by the School of Chemistry were reported on in the Assessment. New advances on atmospheric breakdown products of HFCs by Professor Andrew Orr-Ewing and Professor Dudley Shallcross featured prominently, and long-term atmospheric measurements made by the Atmospheric Chemistry Research Group underpin much of the analysis of the Montreal Protocol’s progress.