France, Oct. 4 -- The world's oceans are bearing the brunt of a triple environmental crisis, according to the European Union's Earth monitors: global warming, pollution and declining biodiversity. The EU Copernicus programme warns that Africa's coasts, buffeted by marine heatwaves and rising sea levels, are especially vulnerable.

"The ocean is changing rapidly, with record extremes and worsening impacts," saidKarina von Schuckmann, lead author of the programme's latest Ocean State Report, which was released this week.

"This knowledge is not just a warning signal - it is a roadmap for restoring balance between humanity and the ocean."

The world's oceans are facing numerous threats: warming waters, rising sea levels and pollution, all of...