World Oceans Day is an annual affair, observed on June 8. The day aims to create awareness about the importance of preserving and conserving oceanic resources. It also celebrates the many ways humanity and biodiversity depend on oceans. Like all other natural resources, oceans are also bearing the brunt of pollution and overexploitation. Acts like overfishing, oil spills, and dumping of waste in oceans have led to complex issues like ocean pollution, destruction of marine biodiversity, and ocean acidification.
World Oceans Day: History And Theme
The idea of World Ocean Day was initially proposed in 1992 by Canada’s International Centre for Ocean Development and the Ocean Institute of Canada at the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 2008, the UN General Assembly passed an official resolution to mark June 8 as World Oceans Day.
Today, all UN member states observed World Ocean Day. The ethos of World Ocean Day is in alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that demand responsible use of global resources. The theme for 2024 World Ocean Day is “Awaken New Depth”.
World Oceans Day: Significance
The oceans are the biggest natural resource in the world as they cover over 70 percent of the Earth’s surface. Oceans are also responsible for producing at least 50 per cent of the oxygen in our atmosphere.
Millions of people depend on oceans for their sustenance and livelihood. Over the years, we have overused marine resources. As a result, we now have plastic-filled oceans and depleting marine biodiversity.
About 90 per cent of big fish populations are depleted and about half of the coral reefs are destroyed. These concerning numbers call for increased awareness and action towards marine protection.
World Oceans Day 2024: Quotes
- I’m always happy when I’m surrounded by water. I think I’m a Mermaid or I was a mermaid. The ocean makes me feel really small and it makes me put my whole life into perspective, it humbles you and makes you feel almost like you’ve been baptized. I feel born again when I get out of the ocean.- Beyoncé Knowles
- I watched the coral reefs that I studied as a student vanish in the blink of an eye, and for decades I wrote and spoke of ocean obituaries. But big scary problems without solutions lead to apathy, not action. Small steps taken by many people in their backyards add up. – Nancy Knowlton
- Even if you never have the chance to see or touch the ocean, it touches you with every breath you take, every drop of water you drink, every bite you consume. Everyone, everywhere is inextricably connected to and utterly dependent upon the existence of the sea. – Dr. Sylvia Earle
- If we pollute the air, water and soil that keep us alive and well, and destroy the biodiversity that allows natural systems to function, no amount of money will save us. – David Suzuki
- Industrial pollution and the discarding of plastic waste must be tackled for the sake of all life in the ocean. – David Attenborough.
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