Experts have estimated that, drought conditions might be increasing by at least 66 percent in upcoming years.Slide 14: Ozone depletion, gradual thinning of Earth's ozone layer in the upper atmosphere caused by the release of chemical compounds containing gaseous chlorine or bromine from industry and other human activities.Ozone depletion is a major environmental problem because it increases the amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation that reaches Earth's surface, which increases the rate of skin cancer, eye cataracts, and genetic and immune system damage.The thinning is most pronounced in the polar regions, especially over Antarctica.