A new study reveals positive news: harmful gases responsible for depleting the ozone layer are declining faster than previously predicted.

• These gases, known as hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), were used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and aerosols.

• The Montreal Protocol, an international treaty signed in 1987, aimed to phase out HCFCs due to their ozone-depleting effects.

• The study finds atmospheric levels of HCFCs peaked in 2021, five years ahead of earlier projections, suggesting the success of the Montreal Protocol.

Read more at the Guardian website.