Stratospheric ozone depletion

Publication

The thickness of the ozone layer above Europe has decreased significantly since the beginning of the 1980s, and is declining at a rate of 4–5 % per decade.

The gradual fall in the concentration of chlorinecontaining ozone-depleting substances in the troposphere (on their way to the stratosphere) shows that international policies to control emissions of ozone-depleting substances are succeeding. Production, sales and consumption of ozonedepleting substances in European countries have fallen significantly since 1989. However, the long life of these substances in the atmosphere means that the ozone layer may not recover fully until after 2050.

The remaining policy challenges for European countries are to tighten control measures, reduce the production and use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons and methyl bromide, to manage the remaining stocks of ozone-depleting substances, and to support developing countries in their efforts to reduce their production, use and emissions of ozone-depleting substances.

Authors

Velders GJM

Specifications

Publication title
Stratospheric ozone depletion
Publication date
1 January 2003
Publication type
Publication
Magazine
In: European Environment Agency. Europe's environment: the third assessment. Copenhagen: EEA, 2003;112-6 (Environmental assessment report 10)
Product number
90956