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Decades ago Sherwood (Sherry) Rowland and Mario Molina were studying the effects of halogen radicals. The halogens are fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, astatine, and tennessine, or F, Cl, Br, I, At, and Ts. During the course of their research, they discovered chlorine radicals reacted with ozone (O3) thusly:

Cl + O3 = ClO + O2 and ClO + O = Cl + O2

This reaction results in the destruction of ozone, converting 2 O3 molecules back into 3 O2 molecules. The reaction is catalytic in Cl, meaning that the Cl radical is recycled and can react continuously with many O3 molecules in an ongoing cycle. Furthermore, they noticed that chlorofluorocarbons such as dichlorodifluoromethane (CF2Cl2, or R12 refrigerant) released Cl radical when exposed to ultraviolet light.

They realized that the most common refrigerant at the time, manufactured by the metric ton, was also capable of interfering and potentially destroying the earth's ozone layer that protects us cooking from UV radiation.

At that time, there were no special precautions taken to control R12 refrigerant use or collect and process waste gas. Old household refrigerators and industrial units were simply allowed to vent to the atmosphere when disposed of.

This was around the same time that atmospheric scientists began to notice the appearance of an "ozone hole", an apparent depletion of ozone particularly over the south pole region, that had not been previously observed.

They quickly put 2+2 together and sounded the alarm. Swift action was taken by governments around the world banning the use of chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants, and some they that Rowland and Molina may have saved the world. R12 is a "forever chemical" meaning is lasts a very long time once released. The ozone hole is still there but has been steadily shrinking since the ban: https://www.nasa.gov/missions/aura/ozone-hole-continues-shrinking-in-2022-nasa-and-noaa-scientists-say/

Rowland and Molina won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1995 for their discovery.

Here is my question:

If Rowland and Molina had made their discovery today, in the current political climate where science is often doubted and looked upon with a conspiratorial bent, would swift action have been taken? Or would the science have been politicized and the R12 lobby have been able to prevent the banning?

What do folks think?

As an aside, Sherry Rowland had also been a star varsity baseball player at University of Chicago and played semi-pro before leaving sports to go save the world.