Atmospheric ozone layer depletion is a global environmental problem facing mankind. The widening atmospheric ozone holes cause more ultraviolet radiation-B (UV-B) to reach the Earth's surface, leading to adverse effects on biosphere and human health. Each year, the Ozone Environmental Impact Assessment Committee of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) invites scientists of different countries in the fields of photobiology and photochemistry to give an up-to-date report on environmental impacts of ozone layer depletion and UV-radiation and on the evaluation of the effectiveness of global efforts in ozone layer protection, so as to provide theoretical support for different countries to formulate sustainable development policies.

From July to September 2021, the Committee invited and organized 48 scientists from 19 countries to modify and update the contents of the assessment report concerning eight themes: (1) Interaction of the ozone layer, ultraviolet radiation and climate (2) Air quality; (3) Climate benefits of the Montreal Protocol; (4) Terrestrial ecosystems; (5) Biogeochemical cycles; (6) Aquatic ecosystems; (7) Natural and synthetic materials; and (8) Human health.

Dr. Wang Qingwei, a research scientist of the Institute of Applied Ecology (IAE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, joined in the compilation of the chapter "Terrestrial Ecosystems". This is the second consecutive year that Dr. Wang was invited by Professor Janet Bornman, Chairman of the Environmental Impact Assessment Committee, to write the chapter article. The chapter written by Dr. Wang focuses on the assessment of consequences of extreme climate events (e.g., severe drought stress, catastrophic storms, unprecedented heatwaves, devastating forest fires and freezing rains) driven by ozone layer depletion and climate change, especially the effects of solar radiation exposure on organisms and carbon cycles of terrestrial ecosystems.

The final report of eight chapters was entitled "Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2021." A summary report for policymakers was released in February 2022. Some contents of the report can be found as journal articles in Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences.

For more details please visit the following links:

(1) Summary Update 2021 for Policymakers:
https://ozone.unep.org/science/assessment/eeap

(2) Online Journal Articles:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43630-022-00176-5