World Ocean Day 2022 will be celebrated on 8 June with the theme Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean.
Since humanity has existed on this planet, we have depended on the ocean for transport, survival, sustenance, etc. Over time, our relationship with the sea has grown increasingly demanding. Progress in humanity has led to mounting pressures and our effect on the ocean has become more and more pronounced. The ocean continues to sustain us all the time and quietly carries the weight of our actions. The dire state of oceans that we are now seeing depicts the reality of how we have harmed them knowingly and unknowingly.
World Ocean Day History
The concept of World’s Ocean 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. This day is also celebrated to raise awareness about the crucial role that the ocean plays in our lives and the important ways people can help protect it.
World Ocean Day was officially established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2008 to be celebrated worldwide, annually on 8 June to resolve the problems of Oceans and also to save Ocean water.
On 8 June 2009, World Ocean Day was officially declared by the United Nations General Assembly.
World Ocean Day 2022: Significance
We celebrate World Ocean Day to remind everyone of the major role Oceans have in everyday life. They are the lungs of our planet providing most of the oxygen we breathe.
The purpose of 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.
Oceans are a major source of food, and medicines and a critical part of the biosphere.
World Ocean Day is observed every year on 8 June to create awareness among people about its importance to our planet earth and its vital role in maintaining Earth’s overall health.
Visual Story on Facts About Oceans
World Oceans Day 2022: 10 Interesting Facts About Marine Life
Importance of Oceans
Oceans are the lifeline of planet Earth. It 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( especially Carbon dioxide) 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.
4 Biggest Threats to our Oceans
Much of the Ocean water is on the verge of becoming unusable because of the harm caused by different types of harmful pollutants that we dump in the Oceans. The majority of species living in oceans will become extinct very soon, which would disturb the natural food chain of our Earth.
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. These deposits are harmful to Ocean species.
Habitat Destruction: The waste that we dump on the Ocean water paralyses coral reefs. Coral reefs are an important ecosystem for species living in the water. Destroying them means loss of habitats and disturbance in water ecosystems.
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.
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 Help Save our Oceans
Stop littering on seashores: Wastes around seashores sometime are carried out by the waves toward the Oceans. Being a responsible citizen, you 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, let’s make a conscious decision to 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.
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Conclusion
We need to value our Oceans and understand how they play a key role in reducing Global Warming, supplying fresh oxygen to us, running economies across the world, providing help to the transport sector, providing livelihoods to various peoples, etc.
Oceans need equal importance as the environment because it is one of the important parts of our biosphere that maintains balance for the survival of life on planet earth.
On this World Ocean Day, let’s pledge to work towards reducing Ocean waste and be a part of cleaner biodiversity as a whole.
