Climate Facts: Ocean heatwave led to 14% coral reefs loss in 10 years, says UNEP

The complexities of climate change and its associated jargon can prove difficult to digest.

TheCable’s quick climate facts will help demystify these concepts through easy-to-understand and straight-to-the-point explanations.

Here are some to keep at the tip of your fingers:

• A new report by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says the global mean concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide increased at a record rate in 2024 — partly as a result of the continued burning of coal for energy.

• NOAA said the annual mean global concentration was close to 430 ppm, about 40 percent more than the pre-industrial level, and enough to heat the planet by about 2.7 °F (1.5 °C).

• The United Nations (UN) says climate change is intensifying the social and economic tensions fuelling high levels of violence against women and girls.

• The organisation said extreme weather, displacement, food insecurity, and economic instability are key factors increasing the prevalence and severity of gender-based violence.

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says 14 percent of the world’s coral reefs were lost between 2009 and 2018 due to ocean heatwaves and climate change.