Bazaar
Wildfires are reversing decades of ozone gains
Mike Ellis
ByMike Ellis•
June 18, 2026Updated: June 18, 2026, 2:55 pm EDTPublished: June 18, 2026, 1:57 pm EDT

Scientists have discovered that after years of making strides in repairing the ozone layer, wildfire smoke and pollutants have helped reverse those gains. Wildfires driven by climate change have dramatically increased and intensified over the years, and the pollutants are causing serious consequences.