Oceans
Owen Murphy
| 08-01-2024
· Information Team
The twenty-first century emerges as the epoch of the oceans, encompassing over 70% of Earth's surface.
Serving as life's cradle, a global link, and a developmental platform, oceans significantly influence human society's survival and growth.
Rather than isolating islands, the oceans unite us into a shared destiny, emphasizing mutual security and peril. Safeguarding the oceans, integral to worldwide security, demands collective commitment.
The genesis of World Oceans Day traces back to the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, spotlighting our shared oceans. Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 5, 2008, June 8th marks World Oceans Day, advocating for ocean awareness and preservation.
Though humans don't inhabit oceans, their importance is unparalleled. Encompassing 3/4 of Earth's surface and 97% of water resources, the oceans are life's source. Humanity relies on oceans for oxygen, climate regulation, carbon sequestration, food, and medicine.
Contributing over 50% of Earth's oxygen, oceans harbor biodiversity and supply protein to over a billion people. By 2030, the ocean industry is poised to employ 40 million people.
Despite these benefits, the ocean faces unprecedented challenges. With 90% of large fish stocks depleted and 50% of coral reefs destroyed, our demands exceed the ocean's capacity to replenish. A new equilibrium, rooted in understanding and harmony between humans and oceans, is imperative for conservation.
World Oceans Day serves as a global platform to enlighten the public on human activities' impact on oceans, fostering a citizen movement for ocean safeguarding. The 2021 theme, "Oceans: Life and Livelihoods," kickstarts a decade-long challenge to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 14 by 2030 – conserving and sustainably utilizing oceans, seas, and marine resources.
The emphasis extends to building a marine ecological civilization, intensifying prevention of marine environmental pollution, and preserving marine biodiversity.
Achieving the orderly development and utilization of marine resources ensures a legacy of blue seas and skies for future generations. As we celebrate World Oceans Day, let it be a rallying cry for global citizens to unite and ensure the sustainable future of our oceans.
Amidst the twenty-first century's rapid evolution, the oceans emerge as an indispensable frontier. Enveloping more than 70% of Earth's expanse, they transcend being mere geographical entities, becoming crucibles of life, conduits to the global tapestry, and pivotal arenas for development.
The oceans, linking nations in a shared destiny, underscore the interdependence of security and peril. It is an urgent call for unified action to preserve and cherish the oceans' peace and tranquility, a matter of paramount concern for the world's nations.
World Oceans Day, conceived at the 1992 Earth Summit, stands as an emblem of our collective commitment to celebrating and safeguarding our shared oceans. June 8th's designation by the United Nations General Assembly in 2008 is a reminder of the interconnectedness between oceans and individual lives.
Beyond their vastness, oceans embody life's origin, covering 3/4 of Earth's surface and holding 97% of its water resources. The oceans, responsible for oxygen production, climate regulation, and sustenance, contribute significantly to human survival.
As we venture into a future where the ocean industry promises to employ millions, there's an imperative to reconcile our actions with the ocean's capacity to rejuvenate.
World Oceans Day serves as a beacon, enlightening the global populace about the ramifications of human activities on oceans. The 2021 theme, "Oceans: Life and Livelihoods," isn't merely a slogan but a clarion call to undertake a decade-long challenge.
It beckons us to cultivate a profound understanding of the oceans and redefine our relationship with them.