World Oceans Day is observed on June 8, a day for humanity to celebrate the ocean. The ocean connects, sustains, and supports us all. According to the United Nations, at least 50% of oxygen is produced by the ocean. The ocean is the key to our economy, with an estimated 40 million people employed by the marine industry by 2030. In addition, 30% of the carbon dioxide produced by humans is absorbed by the ocean, mitigating the effects of global warming.
As long as humanity exists on this planet, we have relied on the ocean for transportation, survival, food and more. As time went on, our relationship with the ocean became more and more severe. Human progress has led to increased pressure, and our impact on the ocean is becoming more and more apparent. The sea constantly nourishes us and quietly supports the weight of our actions. The terrifying ocean conditions we see reflect the reality of how we deliberately and unknowingly hurt the ocean.
World Oceans Day highlights the need for Oceans in our lives and emphasizes the reason to protect them from being deteriorated. Recent plastic waste in the oceans has raised eyebrows and calls for the Governments of the world to be proactive.
World Oceans Day 2022: Theme
The theme for World Oceans Day 2022 is Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean. The focus of this year’s theme is on the life and livelihood that the ocean sustains. Oceans have a lot of plastic waste being disposed of in them which is degrading the life in them and causing the ocean life to suffer.
History of World Ocean Day
The concept of World Oceans Day was first proposed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 to celebrate our universal ocean and our personal connection to the ocean. This day is also celebrated to raise awareness of the important role the ocean plays in our lives and the important ways people can help protect it.
World Oceans Day, officially established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2008, is celebrated around the world on June 8th each year to solve ocean problems and save ocean water. World Oceans Day was declared official by the United Nations General Assembly on June 8, 2009.
Significance of World Ocean Day 2022
We celebrate World Ocean Day to remind everyone the major role of Oceans in everyday life. They are the lungs of our planet providing most of the oxygen we breathe.
The purpose of celebrating this day is:
• To inform the people worldwide of the impact of human actions on the sea.
• Develop a worldwide movement of citizens for the Oceans.
• Mobilise and unite the world’s population on a project for sustainable management of the World’s Oceans.
Importance of Oceans
Ocean holds about 97% of our planet’s water. Over 30% of carbon dioxide is absorbed by the Oceans, buffering the impacts of Global Warming. Oceans produce a good range of goods and services that are an integral part of our health, economies, and weather.
• Tackling Global Warming
Oceans control temperature and weather, absorbing over half the heat reaching the earth from the sun. A vast amount of Greenhouse gases is absorbed by Ocean water, helping the Earth to tackle global climate change.
• An important life source
Marine plants also produce almost half of the oxygen that we and other plants and animal species breathe.
• Source of livelihood
Ocean provides jobs to fishermen, lifeguards, sailors, dive instructors, and people in the tourism and hotel industries.
Biggest Threats to our Oceans
Much of the seawater is unusable due to the damage caused by the various types of pollutants we emit into the ocean. Most of the species that live in the ocean will soon become extinct, destroying the Earth’s natural food chain.
1. Oil Spills: Crude Oil Drilling rigs in the oceans and the tankers that transport them across countries via the Ocean route leak oil into the water, which is left untreated and becomes sludge deposits in the water which are harmful to Ocean species.
2. Habitat Destruction: The waste that we dump on the Ocean water paralyses coral reefs. Which are an important ecosystem for species living in the water. Destroying them means loss of habitats and disturbance in water ecosystems.
3. Plastic Pollution: Microplastics and big plastic bags that float around Oceans pose a threat to species living in the water. Every year over 13 million tons of plastic waste are dumped into the ocean, setting alarm bells.
4. Dumping harmful waste into the water: Not only plastic pollution, dumping waste directly into the water from sewage lines from domestic households and wastewater lines from big industries also poses a big threat to habitats living in the water.
Best Ways to Save our Oceans
• Stop littering on seashores: Wastes around seashores sometime are carried out by the waves toward the Oceans. Being a responsible citizen, one should stop littering.
• Use of non-plastic bags: Plastics take a long time to decompose and cause significant harm to the water and its habitats. Therefore, we should use biodegradable and environmentally friendly bags with a quick decomposing time that will play a key role in saving the environment.
• Measures need to be taken to stop dumping domestic and industrial wastewater directly into the oceans.
