ANTARCTIC OZONE HOLE SHRINKS TO ONE OF SMALLEST IN DECADES; INDIA FACES GROUND-LEVEL OZONE RISK

September 22, 2026

NEW DELHI: The Antarctic ozone hole in 2025 was among the smallest recorded in recent decades, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), marking another indication of the long-term recovery of the ozone layer. The WMO attributed the improvement to sustained international action under the Montreal Protocol, which has reduced emissions of ozone-depleting substances.

The 2025 ozone hole ranked as the fourth or fifth smallest since severe depletion began being observed in 1992. Both its extent and depth remained significantly below the 1990–2010 average for the second consecutive year. The WMO said the ozone layer has been recovering since around 2000 and could return to near-1980 levels outside the polar regions within several decades if current policies continue.

However, India faces a separate concern from rising ground-level ozone, a pollutant formed locally through chemical reactions involving emissions from vehicles, industries and other sources in the presence of sunlight. The Centre for Science and Environment has reported that ground-level ozone is increasingly becoming a widespread, year-round pollution problem across India, with implications for public health and agriculture.