A global agreement signed 25 years ago to phase out the use of substances that damage the ozone layer is being described as the most successful international environmental protection treaty to date.
The Montreal Protocol agreed on 16 September 1987 reduced the production and use of fluorocarbons.
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research says for the past 10 years or so, ozone depletion has stabilised due to the success of the agreement.
NIWA says the protocol took effect just in time to avert a catastrophe and without it the ozone layer would be virtually destroyed by the end of 21st century.
This would disrupt food production, because many types of plants would die, and greatly increase skin cancer rates.
Retired NIWA scientist Tom Clarkson headed a New Zealand delegation at the first meetings of the Montreal Protocol in 1987.
He says ozone damage affects all life in some way and describes the protocol as the most successful environmental treaty by far.
NIWA scientist Dr Richard McKenzie says if it had not been for the protocol, by halfway through this century just five minutes of exposure to sunlight would have caused skin damage.
He says without the protocol the world would be a very unpleasant place to live.
