World Oceans Day is celebrated today, 8 June and a network of organisations are involved in taking action to protect and restore the vast seas. This year’s theme is ‘a keen focus on 30×30 – the global drive to protect at least 30% of the land and ocean by the year 2030,’ according to World Oceans Day.
The concept of a World Oceans Day was first proposed in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro as a way to celebrate our world’s shared ocean and our personal connection to the sea, as well as to raise awareness about the crucial role the ocean plays in our lives and the important ways people can help protect it, according to Unesco.
The oceans hold about 96.5% of all of Earth’s water and about 70% of the oxygen we breathe is produced by the oceans, according to NatGeoKids.
There are several ways you can participate in the event. You can add your signature to the 30×30 petition here. You can also generate awareness by posting on social media using the hashtags #WorldOceansDay and #ProtectOurHome.
Across the world, countries and organisations are taking part. A stock image website called Pexels, are hosting a photo challenge ‘paying homage to the ocean and the millions of incredible plants and animals that inhabit it’. They hope to raise awareness around protecting our planet.
The Royal Museums Greenwich are also celebrating World Oceans Day for the third year running, and this year they are bringing it online by hosting several online events, activities and discussions.
If you want to find out about the many other events taking place, you can find them here.
Check out the selection of VIRTUAL events on #WorldOceansDay. June 8th is filled with action-packed activities to protect our #blueplanet. Visit the global database for more virtual and in-person events across the globe. Together we can #ProtectOurHome : https://t.co/87jCHeGHrL pic.twitter.com/axLZYbziye
— World Oceans Day (@WorldOceansDay) June 5, 2020
‘No matter what the challenges are, there will be no deterring anyone in the pursuit of this goal. We are all here to celebrate successes, learn from and support one another, take action, and enjoy the day!’ said World Oceans Day.
Here are some celebrations of this very important day:
For centuries people have assumed that our ocean was limitless & immune to human impacts.
But it reached its breaking point a long time ago.
On Monday’s #WorldOceanDay, we are shining a spotlight on innovations to #SaveOurOcean before it’s too late: https://t.co/ty4peN0uqn pic.twitter.com/NYbE4YSIZm
— UNESCO (@UNESCO) June 8, 2020
“The ocean is what truly connects us all. We are delighted to showcase how the ocean is a vital part of our lives during our ‘World Oceans Weekend’ celebration,” says @MaritimeAqua CEO Jason Patlis. Tune-in to the lineup of #WorldOceansDay activities: https://t.co/Msar0MKDHp pic.twitter.com/5BLmM5q7U4
— World Oceans Day (@WorldOceansDay) June 7, 2020
It’s #WorldOceansDay! Share if you agree that our oceans need protecting every day of the year. ✊
It’s home to a million species, provides food for a billion people, and has absorbed a third of all carbon ever produced! pic.twitter.com/fuQYwwftDR
— WWF UK (@wwf_uk) June 8, 2020
Today is #WorldOceansDay!
They are the unnoticed heroes silently protecting us from climate change.
With the #EUBiodiversity strategy for 2030, we want to restore our endangered ecosystems and natural habitats by establishing protected areas for at least 30% of EU seas ↓— European Commission 🇪🇺 #UnitedAgainstCoronavirus (@EU_Commission) June 8, 2020
Happy #WorldOceansDay! 🌊🐟🐙🦈🐚🌊#DidYouKnow that 66% of the marine environment has been significantly altered by human actions? – @IPBES Global Assessment
Today, we celebrate and honor the #ocean, which connects us all#ProtectOurHome pic.twitter.com/U86R9ldp9M
— ipbes (@IPBES) June 8, 2020
Happy #WorldOceansDay! 🌊🐟🐙🦈🐚🌊#DidYouKnow that 66% of the marine environment has been significantly altered by human actions? – @IPBES Global Assessment
Today, we celebrate and honor the #ocean, which connects us all#ProtectOurHome pic.twitter.com/U86R9ldp9M
— ipbes (@IPBES) June 8, 2020
Image credit: Unsplash
