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Journal article
Environmental consequences of interacting effects of changes in stratospheric ozone, ultraviolet radiation, and climate: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2024
Photochemical & photobiological sciences, Vol.24(3), pp.357-392
2025
PMID: 40095356
Abstract
This Assessment Update by the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) addresses the interacting effects of changes in stratospheric ozone, solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and climate on the environment and human health. These include new modelling studies that confirm the benefits of the Montreal Protocol in protecting the stratospheric ozone layer and its role in maintaining a stable climate, both at low and high latitudes. We also provide an update on projected levels of solar UV-radiation during the twenty-first century. Potential environmental consequences of climate intervention scenarios are also briefly discussed, illustrating the large uncertainties of, for example, Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI). Modelling studies predict that, although SAI would cool the Earth's surface, other climate factors would be affected, including stratospheric ozone depletion and precipitation patterns. The contribution to global warming of replacements for ozone-depleting substances (ODS) are assessed. With respect to the breakdown products of chemicals under the purview of the Montreal Protocol, the risks to ecosystem and human health from the formation of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as a degradation product of ODS replacements are currently de minimis. UV-radiation and climate change continue to have complex interactive effects on the environment due largely to human activities. UV-radiation, other weathering factors, and microbial action contribute significantly to the breakdown of plastic waste in the environment, and in affecting transport, fate, and toxicity of the plastics in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and the atmosphere. Sustainability demands continue to drive industry innovations to mitigate environmental consequences of the use and disposal of plastic and plastic-containing materials. Terrestrial ecosystems in alpine and polar environments are increasingly being exposed to enhanced UV-radiation due to earlier seasonal snow and ice melt because of climate warming and extended periods of ozone depletion. Solar radiation, including UV-radiation, also contributes to the decomposition of dead plant material, which affects nutrient cycling, carbon storage, emission of greenhouse gases, and soil fertility. In aquatic ecosystems, loss of ice cover is increasing the area of polar oceans exposed to UV-radiation with possible negative effects on phytoplankton productivity. However, modelling studies of Arctic Ocean circulation suggests that phytoplankton are circulating to progressively deeper ocean layers with less UV irradiation. Human health is also modified by climate change and behaviour patterns, resulting in changes in exposure to UV-radiation with harmful or beneficial effects depending on conditions and skin type. For example, incidence of melanoma has been associated with increased air temperature, which affects time spent outdoors and thus exposure to UV-radiation. Overall, implementation of the Montreal Protocol and its Amendments has mitigated the deleterious effects of high levels of UV-radiation and global warming for both environmental and human health.
Details
- Title
- Environmental consequences of interacting effects of changes in stratospheric ozone, ultraviolet radiation, and climate: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2024
- Authors/Creators
- Patrick J Neale - Smithsonian Environmental Research CenterSamuel Hylander - Linnaeus UniversityAnastazia T Banaszak - Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoDonat-P Häder - Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University (Retired), Erlangen, GermanyKevin C Rose - Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteDavide Vione - University of TurinSten-Åke Wängberg - University of GothenburgMarcel A K Jansen - University College CorkRosa Busquets - Kingston UniversityMads P Sulbæk Andersen - University of CopenhagenSasha Madronich - Colorado State UniversityMark L Hanson - University of ManitobaTamara Schikowski - Leibniz Institute of Environmental MedicineKeith R Solomon - University of GuelphBarbara Sulzberger - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyTimothy J Wallington - University of MichiganAnu M Heikkilä - Finnish Meteorological InstituteKrishna K Pandey - Indian Academy of SciencesAnthony L Andrady - North Carolina State UniversityLaura S Bruckman - Case Western Reserve UniversityChristopher C White - ExponentLiping Zhu - Donghua UniversityGermar H Bernhard - Biospherical InstrumentsAlkiviadis Bais - Aristotle University of ThessalonikiPieter J Aucamp - Ptersa Environmental Consultant, Pretoria, South AfricaGabriel Chiodo - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasRaúl R Cordero - Universidad de Santiago de ChileIrina Petropavlovskikh - Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental SciencesRachel E Neale - QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteCatherine M Olsen - QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteSimon Hales - University of OtagoAparna Lal - Australian National UniversityGareth Lingham - Lions Eye InstituteLesley E Rhodes - University of ManchesterAntony R Young - King's College LondonT Matthew Robson - University of CumbriaSharon A Robinson - University of WollongongPaul W Barnes - Loyola University New OrleansJanet F Bornman - Murdoch University, Food Futures InstituteAnna B Harper - University of GeorgiaHanna Lee - Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyRoy Mackenzie Calderón - Millennium Institute for Integrative BiologyRachele Ossola - NSF National Center for Atmospheric ResearchNigel D Paul - Lancaster UniversityLaura E Revell - University of CanterburyQing-Wei Wang - Institute of Applied EcologyRichard G Zepp - Environmental Protection Agency
- Publication Details
- Photochemical & photobiological sciences, Vol.24(3), pp.357-392
- Publisher
- Springer
- Number of pages
- 36
- Grant note
- SFI-MPS-SRM-00005217 / US Simons Foundation and European Commission SR200100005 / ARC SRIEAS Grant Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future ICN2021_002 / ANID/BASAL and Millennium Science Initiative ACT210046 / ANID ANILLO and FONDECYT FB210018 / ANID/BASAL and Millennium Science Initiative F1221122 / ANID ANILLO and FONDECYT 101078127 / US Simons Foundation and European Commission
- Identifiers
- 991005753931307891
- Copyright
- © The Author(s) 2025
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Food Futures Institute
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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