BY ESTHER MUTURI
World Ocean Day is an international day that takes place annually on 8 June. A concept originally proposed in 1992 by Canada’s International Centre for Ocean Development and the Ocean Institute of Canada at the Earth Summit – UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Ocean Project started global coordination of World Ocean Day starting in 2002. “World Oceans Day” was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2008.
The international day supports the implementation of worldwide Sustainable Development Goals and fosters public interest in the protection of the ocean and the sustainable management of its resources.
World Oceans Day is celebrated in a variety of ways, including special events at aquariums and zoos, beach and river clean-ups, school activities, conservation programs art contests, and film festivals.
Following this year’s theme, “Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing”. It aims to raise awareness of the importance of the ocean and the need to protect it.
The theme this year is a call to action for everyone to make a difference by reducing our consumption of single-use plastics, supporting sustainable seafood, and advocating for policies that protect the ocean.
World Oceans Day also reminds people of the important role the ocean plays in our lives. Life began in the ocean.
And the ocean is home to the majority of plants and animals on Earth, from single-cell organisms to the blue whale.
Marine plants provide us with 70 percent of the oxygen we breathe. The ocean controls the climate, providing heat in winter and cool air in summer. It also provides us with food and medicines as well as transport. No matter where you live on the planet, no matter how far from the sea, your life is dependent on the oceans.
The most urgent problem facing the ocean at the moment is plastic pollution. Reducing one-use plastic, including plastic bags and plastic bottles, has been an important theme for World Oceans Day for a number of years.
Climate change and rising sea temperatures are also a huge problem. Rising sea temperatures have a direct influence on weather patterns and are seen as partly responsible for an increase in extreme weather conditions. An increase in carbon dioxide is increasing the acid levels of seawater and putting many marine organisms at risk.
There are ways to celebrate World Oceans Day to help protect the ocean
Learn more about the ocean: The United Nations has a dedicated website dedicated to World Oceans Day.
Reduce consumption of single-use plastics: Reduce your consumption of single-use plastics by bringing your own reusable bags, water bottles, utensils, and straws.
Support sustainable seafood: Overfishing is a major threat to the ocean. You can help protect the ocean by supporting sustainable seafood.
Volunteer: There are many NGOs that need volunteers to help in beach cleanups, educating the public, etc. You can volunteer for one of such organization.
Recycle: Recycling helps to reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfills, which can help to protect the ocean from pollution.
Social Media: Posting about the day or activities you do for the ocean on social media to raise awareness about the significance of the day.