Thirty years ago, scientists reported a hole in the ozone layer “the size of North America.” The culprits were man-made chemicals called CFCs, which were prevalent in billions of dollars worth of refrigeration, air conditioning and other products that had revolutionized America’s way of life. With doctors forecasting skyrocketing cancer rates if changes weren’t made, the stakes were literally “life as we know it.’” Yet companies remained bitterly opposed to changing their products. Politicians were slow to act. Like with today’s CO2 emissions, an invisible compound was threatening the Earth’s life-support systems, but a solution seemed beyond reach. Eerily reminiscent of today’s energy and climate crisis, Shattered Sky tells the story of how America led the world in solving the biggest environmental crisis ever seen.

Directed and produced by Steve Dorst and Dan Evans.