Climate Facts: The world experiencing coral bleaching, says NOAA

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:

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says the world is currently experiencing a coral bleaching event. The organisation said this is the fourth global event on record and the second in the last 10 years.
• Coral bleaching occurs when corals become white due to loss of symbiotic algae and photosynthetic pigments.
• NOAA added that ocean heat content soared to its highest level in 65 years, as over 90 percent of the ocean experienced heatwave conditions at some point in 2023.

• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says climate change has adversely affected human, physical and mental health and is contributing to humanitarian crises.
• IPCC said in all regions, increase in extreme heat events have resulted in human mortality and morbidity.
• It added that some mental health challenges are associated with increasing temperatures, trauma from extreme events and loss of livelihoods and culture.

• The United Nations (UN) says an estimated 4.2 million people die from ambient air pollution.
• The organisation said the level of air pollution remains significantly higher than the recommended air quality.