The scientific confirmation of depletion of the ozone layer prompted the international community to establish a mechanism for cooperation to take action to protect the ozone layer. Every action counts.”The hole that opens annually in the ozone layer over Earth’s southern pole was relatively small in 2024 compared to other years. Common Chemicals Erode the Ozone LayerA number of commonly used chemicals have been found to be extremely damaging to the ozone layer. “Scientists estimate that the hole in the ozone layer will be no more by the 2060s,” said Meg Seki from the Ozone Secretariat. Found high in Earth’s atmosphere, the ozone layer shields the planet from most of the Sun’s ultraviolet rays.