This year’s United Nations World Oceans Day, on 8 June 2022, will highlight the theme Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean.
Every year on June 8, the World Oceans Day is commemorated all across the world. Oceans cover more than 70% of the earth’s surface and are vital to life’s survival. Their deterioration could destabilize the earth’s natural resource dynamics.
Theme
On World Oceans Day, June 8, 2022, the United Nations will highlight the theme Revitalisation: Collective Action for the Ocean.
According to the United Nations, seas supply roughly half of the world’s oxygen and are home to the majority of the planet’s living organisms. It is the world’s primary source of protein for over 1 billion people. By 2030, around 40 million people will be employed in ocean-based enterprises.
Oceans also absorb roughly 30% of carbon dioxide created by humans, assisting in global warming mitigation.
However, due to irresponsible human actions, oceans have seen 90 percent depletion of large fish populations and 50 percent damage of coral reefs over the years.
Every year, World Oceans Day serves as a reminder of the devastation caused by human activities such as garbage and sewage disposal, as well as oil spills.
The goal of the day is to create public awareness about the “effect of human actions on the ocean” and to mobilize citizens to ensure that it is managed sustainably.
History
The United Nations first suggested World Oceans Day in 1992 at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit. It was proposed that a day be set aside to promote awareness about the importance of oceans in our lives and how people can help protect them.
With the help of sponsorship from UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the World Ocean Network has generated support for ocean awareness events on June 8 since 2002.
The United Nations General Assembly issued a resolution designating this day on December 5, 2008.
Other UN agencies, such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), seek to safeguard marine and coastal ecosystems in addition to UNESCO.
Sri Lanka and the Ocean
Being an island nation Sri Lanka is blessed to have the vast Indian Ocean around the country. But the actions we have taken to safeguard this vital environment is something we can not be happy about. With major maritime disasters like the “Express Pearl” incident the ocean environment around the country is facing major challenge of survival.
As Sri Lankans, it’s our duty and responsibility to protect this important ecosystem and educate the citizens about the importance of the ocean environment for the country and for the earth as a whole.
