Reducing methane emissions will slow climate change but could also slow the recovery of the stratospheric ozone layer, new research from the University of Reading shows.
Reducing methane emissions will slow climate change but could also slow the recovery of the stratospheric ozone layer, new research from the University of Reading shows.
The study found that cutting methane makes two other groups of gases more effective at destroying ozone. When methane levels fall, gases derived from halocarbons and nitrous oxide become more chemically active and break down the ozone layer more quickly. The more aggressive the methane reduction, the slower the ozone layer’s recovery.
Published today (29th May 2026) in Geophysical Research Letters, the research indicates that the recovery of the ozone layer could be set back if action on methane is not matched by continued action on other damaging gases.
Dr James Weber, lead author from the Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, said: “The findings do not suggest that cutting methane is the wrong thing to do. Methane is the second-most important greenhouse gas resulting from human activity, after carbon dioxide, and reducing it remains one of the fastest ways to slow climate change, with benefits for air quality as well.
Read More: University of Reading
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