UN Warns: Oceans Under Severe Stress, Sea-Level Rise Accelerating

The United Nations' third World Ocean Assessment warns that marine ecosystems face severe stress from human activities. The report reveals sea-level rise doubled over the past decade, reaching 4.3 mm annually by 2023. Oceans absorb over 90 percent of excess heat, causing Arctic temperatures to rise four times faster than the global average. Coral reefs have declined 80 percent in the Caribbean since the 1970s, while 52.1 million tonnes of plastic waste enter oceans yearly. The UN Secretary-General called for immediate global collaboration to address this ecological emergency.