World Ocean Day

World Ocean Day is on June 8! On World Ocean Day, people all over the world come together to celebrate and protect the oceans of our planet.

Because of human-caused climate change, oceans are facing big challenges. Pollution like plastic trash and oil spills contaminate the water and harm marine life. Animals can get entangled in trash or eat it thinking it is food. Global warming heats up the oceans which can lead to problems like coral bleaching and sea level rise.

World Ocean Day is meant to raise awareness of these problems and take action through political advocacy, educating others, and working to reduce environmental pollution with beach cleanups and more.  

History of World Ocean Day

World Ocean Day began in 2003, with 25 events held in 15 countries. In 2008, it was recognized as an official day by the United Nations. By 2019, there were over 2000 events being held in over 140 countries!

 In 2016, the Youth Advisory Council and the Multi-year Conservation Action Focus was launched. The Youth Advisory Council allows youths to have a say in protecting our oceans and their futures. The Multi-year Conservation Action Focus works to prevent plastic pollution and was updated in 2020, aiming to protect 30% of our lands and oceans by 2030.

Here are ways you can take action:

1. 1. 1. Visit worldoceanday.org to explore events, get educated through resources and blogs, and be a part of the rising political movement to save our oceans. 
      2. Sign petitions and join movements to urge political leaders to pass legislation that will help our oceans be cleaner and safer. 
      3. Educate yourself with online resources or books.
      4. Organize an event with your community to educate others or do an activity like a beach clean up. 
      5. Check out and join the youth movements and Youth Advisory Council for World Ocean Day advocating for ocean protection here: worldoceanday.org/youth/. 

Oceans are key to our Planet as they are a major source of food and medicine. It is essential that we all participate in World Ocean Day 2022 by educating ourselves on how to safeguard our ocean and work towards building climate change resiliency. Let’s unite around the world to manage the impact human actions have on our ocean!

 

Sources

United Nations. (n.d.). World Oceans Day. United Nations. Retrieved June 13, 2022, from https://www.un.org/en/observances/oceans-day

World Ocean Day. (2021, September 10). Mission and history. World Ocean Day. Retrieved June 13, 2022, from https://worldoceanday.org/about/mission-and-history/

 

Written by: Vivien Chen

June 2, 2022