The Earth's protective ozone layer is well on track to recovery in the next few decades thanks to concerted international action against ozone depleting substances, according to a new assessment by 300 scientists. The Assessment for Decision-Makers, a summary document of the Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion 2014, is being published by the UNEP and the WMO, and is the first comprehensive update in four years. The stratospheric ozone layer, a fragile shield of gas, protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. Without the Montreal Protocol and associated agreements, atmospheric levels of ozone depleting substances could have increased tenfold by 2050. According to global models, the Protocol will have prevented 2 million cases of skin cancer annually by 2030, averted damage to human eyes and immune systems, and protected wildlife and agriculture, according to UNEP.

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC) has released a report, titled ‘Time to Act – To reduce short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs).' The report details the causes and sources of SLCPs, and outlines the potential benefits of control measures.

Two US senators went public with this proposal to cut short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) which are currently responsible for 40 per cent or more of global warming. Introducing the Super Pollutants Act of 2014, senators Chris Murphy (Democrat, Connecticut) and Susan Collins (Republican, Maine) have called for establishing a task force to review specific policies and laws to reduce black carbon, methane, and high-global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

A Bill to establish a task force to review policies and measures to promote, and to develop best practices for, reduction of short-lived climate pollutants, and for other purposes.

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Fast action under the Montreal Protocol can limit growth of HFCs, prevent 100 to 200 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions by 2050, and avoid up to 0.5°C of warming by 2100.