June 8 – World Oceans Day

June 8 – World Oceans Day

2019-06-08

News  Department

Why we celebrate World Oceans Day

　　The purpose of celebrating World Oceans Day is to remind people of the importance of the ocean to daily life. The ocean is the lungs of the Earth; most of the oxygen we breathe is provided by the ocean. Oceans Day aims to make the public aware of the impact of human activities on the ocean, thereby launching a global ocean-citizen movement and mobilizing and uniting people around the world to take part in the sustainable management of the world’s oceans. The ocean is a major source of food and medicine, and also a key component of the biosphere. Finally, celebrating World Oceans Day is also a way to jointly celebrate the beauty and wealth of the ocean and the hope it brings us.

2019 Focus: Gender and the Ocean

　　This theme provides us with an opportunity to explore the gender dimension of the relationship between humanity and the ocean.

　　This year’s World Oceans Day is dedicated to fostering a better understanding of the ocean and gender, and to exploring possible ways to promote gender equality in ocean-related activities, including marine scientific research, fisheries, maritime labor, migration and human trafficking by sea, and decision-making and management.

　　There is growing recognition of the importance of gender equality, especially in the effective conservation and sustainable use of the ocean and marine resources. However, relevant data and research remain very scarce. In order to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 5, we still need concerted action across all ocean-related fields to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls.

　　The United Nations will hold a World Oceans Day celebration conference. Participants from around the world will share their views on how to build a strong culture of ocean and gender, and explore relevant ways to promote gender equality in ocean-related activities.

Fighting against plastic pollution

　　This year, the President of the UN General Assembly launched a global campaign against plastic pollution called “Play It Out.” For decades, the excessive use and surging volume of single-use plastics have led to a global environmental disaster. At present, 13 million metric tons of plastic flow into the ocean each year, causing the deaths of 100,000 marine animals annually and other damage. Although most plastics can remain intact for decades or even centuries after use, the plastics that can indeed degrade eventually become microplastics, which, after being ingested by fish and other marine wildlife, quickly enter the global food chain.

　　From plastic straws to plastic bags, we are fighting on the front line of efforts to implement #BeatPlasticPollution#.

　　With the assistance of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, the shortlist for the 2019 World Oceans Day photo competition will be announced on June 7 (Friday) at the UN celebration. Click here to learn more about the photo competition, the shortlists from previous editions, and this year’s panel of judges.

　　Please follow the hashtags: #WorldOceansDay#, #SaveOurOcean#

The Ocean and the Sustainable Development Goals

　　In 2008, the United Nations declared the establishment of World Oceans Day, further advancing global action. In 1992, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, celebrated the first Oceans Day. Twenty-five years later, the United Nations Ocean Conference, held from June 5 to 9, 2017, hosted a special event on June 8 to celebrate World Oceans Day. The Ocean Conference was convened to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.