The ozone hole is a region of the atmosphere where the ozone layer (the part of the stratosphere that shields Earth from the sun’s UV radiations) is either extremely thin or nonexistent. Ozone in the southern polar region is rapidly and severely degraded by chemical processes involving chlorine and bromine every year during the spring in the Southern Hemisphere. The "ozone hole" is the name given to this area of depletion.

The annual Antarctic ozone hole covered an average area of 23.2 million square kilometers between September 7 and October 13, 2022 (9.0 million square miles). The South Pole's ozone layer depletion was slightly less than typical compared to the same time last year. This represents a general continuation of the recent trend of global shrinkage.

According to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center's chief scientist for Earth sciences, Paul Newman, "over time, steady progress is being made, and the hole is growing smaller. We observe some fluctuation in the statistics from day to day and week to week as a result of weather variations and other variables. However, throughout the course of the last two decades, it has generally decreased".

This is because of the Montreal Protocol, a deal that was adopted 35 years ago to prohibit the discharge of dangerous chemicals known as chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, which deplete the ozone layer. It is still the only global agreement that has been ratified by all nations. It has changed over time to address new scientific, technical, and economic breakthroughs and challenges.

The battle to restore the ozone layer has left us with the impression that a small number of people, like the ones who started off the Montreal Protocol, had a significant impact on altering humanity's course, but they mostly did it by fostering public engagement, international diplomacy, and collective effort. In the struggle to make the world a better place, people and coordinating systems are essential. However, we must not forget the extent of our power when we possess both.

This can serve as a constant reminder to us that change is possible and that there is always hope for us to work together, through science and humanity, and find solutions to the crises we are currently facing. In unity, we move forward.