The amount of CFCs in the atmosphere is directly related to the rate at which the ozone layer is depleted. The ozone layer is a region in the Earth's stratosphere that absorbs most of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation, protecting life on the planet. CFCs are long-lived chemicals that are released into the atmosphere through industrial processes and other activities. Once released, CFCs remain in the atmosphere for many decades, and they drift up to the stratosphere. There they are broken down by sunlight, releasing chlorine atoms. These chlorine atoms then react with and destroy ozone molecules, thinning the ozone layer. Thus, if the number of CFCs in the atmosphere decreases, it would mean the destruction of ozone layer would be slowed down.