Climate Facts: Global warming heating up West Africa’s cocoa belt, study finds

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 Climate Central says global warming increased the number of days above the ideal cocoa growth temperature range in West Africa — by two to four weeks annually — causing a decline in the crop’s production.
• The report noted that climate change added more days above the optimal temperature range, during the main crop cycle than during the mid-crop cycle, across nearly all cocoa growing regions in 2024.
• A study by the Colorado State University has found that tree ranges are generally contracting in response to climate change, but not expanding into cooler, wetter climates.
• The study suggests that forests are not regenerating fast enough to keep pace with climate change, wildfire, insects and disease.
• The United Nations’ World Meteorological Order (WMO) says the world is already 1.5°C warmer than it was during its pre-industrial years, and current emission levels suggest that the planet will warm by an estimated 4°C to 5°C by the end of the century.