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Comment and Earth

Someone is wrecking the ozone layer again. They must be stopped

By Lesley Evans Ogden

17 May 2018

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Atmosphere sensors have detected a spike in emissions of banned CFCs

Eye Ubiquitous / Alamy

Last year marked 30 years since the Montreal Protocol, an international agreement signed by 197 countries aimed at healing the ozone layer. Heralded as a landmark environmental treaty – the first in UN history to achieve universal ratification – its effectiveness has been a beacon for international progress on so-called ‘wicked’ problems.

But there has been a surprising rise in emissions of one of the most damaging ozone-depleting chemicals banned by the treaty, a new study has found. Its apparent source: east Asia.

A gaseous…

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