A current challenge related to ozone recovery is

• A. Emissions from old equipment have been fully eliminated by bans.
• B. Emissions from old equipment continue to release ozone-depleting substances and climate-forcing substitutes.
• C. There are no challenges remaining; ozone recovery is complete.
• D. Ozone depletion is no longer a concern for policymakers.

Answer: (B)

Ozone recovery is being hindered by legacy emissions from old equipment and the remaining banks of ozone-depleting substances. Even after bans stopped new production, refrigerators, air conditioners, insulation foams, and fire suppression systems still contain CFCs, Halons, and related chemicals. When these devices are serviced, discarded, or deteriorate, the stored substances can leak back into the atmosphere. In addition, the substitutes used to replace ozone-depleting substances often have climate-forcing effects, adding another layer of complexity to policy goals. So, ozone recovery continues to face challenges because these old equipment leaks and substituted chemicals persist, delaying full restoration of the ozone layer. The other statements ignore the reality that legacy emissions and ongoing releases from old equipment remain a concern.