Blueprint for the Climate Crisis: Revisiting the Ozone Victory

Oliver Hovenden | Climate and Environment Fellow

Image sourced from NASA Earth Observatory via Wikimedia Commons.

Climate change is far from the first global environmental crisis the world has faced. In the 1980s, mounting scientific evidence revealed that human-made chemicals were damaging the ozone layer, exposing the planet to harmful radiation. In response, the world came together to sign the Montreal Protocol in 1987, agreeing to phase out ozone-depleting substances. The Protocol remains one of history’s most effective global agreements and stands as a powerful example of what is possible when the world listens to science and acts collectively to avert disaster.

As the world grapples with the daunting challenge of tackling the climate crisis, the ozone success story offers valuable lessons – showing us what is possible when international institutions are trusted, science informs policy, and fairness underpins global cooperation.

The Ozone Red Zone

The ozone layer, a thin band of gas in the Earth’s stratosphere, protects life by absorbing ultraviolet radiation from the sun. In the 1980s, scientists confirmed that this layer was thinning, with a seasonal ‘hole’ forming over Antarctica. The cause was clear; chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), chemicals used widely in aerosols, refrigeration, and industrial processes, were breaking down ozone in the stratosphere. 

Without action, increased radiation would have triggered a worldwide collapse in the ozone layer by the 2040s, leading to significant increases in human health issues like skin cancers, as well as widespread ecological damage. UV radiation disrupts ecosystems by harming organisms like phytoplankton which form the base of the marine food web and serve as key carbon sinks. Continued CFC emissions could have contributed up to 2.5 °C of additional warming by the end of this century.

A Global Response to a Global Problem

With CFCs embedded in global supply chains and chemical industry lobbyists sowing doubt over human impact, the response was initially slow. Yet, within two years of discovering the Antarctic ozone hole, the world came together to sign the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

Remarkably, the Protocol has since achieved universal ratification, a feat shared by no other treaty. It succeeded because it wasn’t vague or aspirational; it set binding targets, included flexibility, and introduced mechanisms for strengthening commitments over time. Today, more than 99 per cent of ozone-depleting substances have been eliminated, with the ozone layer on track to return to pre-1980 levels in the coming decades.

Lessons from Montreal

Science Driving the Market

A key strength of the Montreal Protocol was its foundations in clear, consensus-based science. Global assessments by the World Meteorological Organisation and the United Nations Environment Programme built a shared understanding of the threat, leaving limited space for denial or delay.

Crucially, the treaty was adaptable, including mechanisms for strengthening commitments as new scientific data emerged. The most recent update came in the 2016 Kigali Amendment, a change that could avoid up to 0.4 °C additional warming by 2100 by targeting potent hydrofluorocarbons.

Scientists also served as powerful communicators. By making complex chemistry understandable, they mobilised public pressure and sparked consumer campaigns against CFC-based products. This fuelled market demand for safer alternatives in industries like refrigeration and air-conditioning. Trade sanctions against non-signatory countries added further incentive, accelerating global participation by aligning economic interests with environmental goals.

These lessons are vital for climate policy today. Without market mechanisms – like carbon pricing, emissions trading, and tariffs – even motivated governments and corporations face competitive pressure to delay cuts.

Binding Targets, Not Voluntary Pledges

Unlike many modern climate agreements, the Montreal Protocol established binding targets with a clear timetable for action. Countries were held accountable through regular reporting, peer-review and transparency requirements, fostering shared responsibility and discouraging free-riding. This structure delivered real reductions and a shared sense of purpose.

The contrast with the Paris Agreement is striking. While the Paris deal was a diplomatic breakthrough, its reliance on voluntary pledges and nationally determined contributions makes ambition optional and enforcement limited. As the climate crisis intensifies, voluntary frameworks cannot deliver the scale and speed of transformation needed.

Equity Backed by Real Support

The Montreal Protocol acknowledged that while the ozone threat was global, countries differed in their capacities and responsibilities. Developed nations took the lead and funded the transition for others. The Protocol’s Multilateral Fund has provided nearly USD$4 billion to help developing countries adopt safer technologies and build institutional capacity.

This lesson is critical for climate policy. Wealthier countries, having contributed more to historical emissions and possessing greater resources, must support lower-income nations through climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building. Unfortunately, many rich countries have fallen short of their USD$100 billion commitments, and some are retreating from global climate funding altogether.

Confronting the Climate Crisis

While the climate crisis is more complex than the ozone challenge, the success of the Montreal Protocol remains deeply instructive. The Protocol showed that science-led, adaptive governance can work multilaterally. Climate agreements must follow this model, embedding science in transparent institutions and building strong links between research, review, and action. As impacts intensify, global frameworks must be flexible enough to keep pace. Market incentives are also critical. Carbon pricing, emissions trading, and tariffs help drive action and prevent backsliding. 

Above all, climate diplomacy must shift from promises to delivery. Measurable, enforceable targets, robust monitoring, and scaled-up support for vulnerable nations are all essential.

Almost forty years on, lessons from Montreal provide a clear path for effective climate action. It is up to global leaders to learn, and act, with the stakes higher than ever.

Oliver Hovenden is the Climate and Environment Fellow for Young Australians in International Affairs. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and Laws (Honours) from the University of Tasmania, majoring in Politics and International Relations. As Climate and Environment Fellow, Oliver has used an environmental justice lens to explore the latest international developments in climate law and policy, the impact of climate activism, and Australia’s important role in the Antarctic and Indo-Pacific regions.