On 16th May 1985, Joe Farman, Brian Gardiner and Jonathan Shanklin from the British Antarctic Survey published a paper in Nature announcing their discovery of a hole in the ozone layer above Antarctica. Their research suggested that chlorine released from CFCs – the chemicals used in everyday products like aerosols, refrigerators and air conditioning units – was destroying the layer of ozone which shields the Earth from the sun’s UV rays.

Just two years after the paper was published, world governments took swift action by signing up to the Montreal Protocol, a UN treaty which phased out the use of CFCs. Today, the Montreal Protocol is widely considered the most successful environmental treaty ever.

The meteorologist Peter Gibbs, who spent two years in Antarctica collecting ozone measurements for the British Antarctic Survey, reflects on the life of the camera-shy scientist who made one of the most important discoveries of the twentieth century.

“Farman realised the implications of his work for the whole world,” says Peter, “and despite not being a natural performer, he was prepared to put his head above the parapet.”

Producer: Dan Hardoon
Series Editor: David Prest
A Whistledown Production in association with The Open University. Show less