Since 2009, the United Nations has designated June 8 as World Oceans Day. The aim of this operation is to raise awareness among the widest public about the crucial role that the oceans play for the planet and humanity, as well as the different means that exist to protect them.
The oceans cover 71% of the Earth’s surface and produce more than half of our oxygen needs. They are home to most of the biodiversity on the planet, nearly 80% of all life on Earth. They are also an important source of food and medicine for mankind.
The lungs of the planet
The oceans also play a major role in the fight against excess greenhouse gas emissions. They absorb 25% of all carbon dioxide emissions and capture 90% of the additional heat generated by these emissions. In addition to acting as “the lungs of the planet”, they also represent the largest carbon sink against the effects of global warming.
This biodiversity (fauna and flora combined) is in particular the main source of protein for more thana billion people in the world. The oceans also play a key role in the economy, since around 40 million people are already or will be employed by ocean industries by 2030.
The survival of humanity depends on the oceans
The United Nations has placed World Oceans Day 2022 under the theme “ Revitalizing the oceans through collective action » and organizes this year the ocean conference in Lisbon at the end of June.
This is a global appeal to citizens for them to explore and learn about our dependence on ocean resources, how the ocean is changing and what we can do to create sustainable and inclusive livelihoods, for the ocean and all those who depend on it to thrive.
On June 8, all over the world, World Oceans Day raises public awareness of the fundamental place that the oceans play in our ecosystem, and of the threats they face due to human activities. The aim is to unite the populations of all countries around a more sustainable management of the oceans.
Because man needs the ocean to survive and, more than ever before, the ocean needs a overwhelming support to continue to fulfill its functions, which are essential for the planet.
With 90% of wholesale populations Pisces already depleted and 50% of coral reefs destroyed, we are taking more from the ocean than it is capable of replenishing. To protect and preserve the ocean and all it supports, it’s about create a new balance, grounded in a true understanding of the ocean and how humanity is connected to it. We need to establish a relationship with the ocean that is truly inclusive and innovative.
How to participate in World Oceans Day?
The most effective way to participate, at your level, in World Oceans Day is to join or plan a beach cleaning. This is one of the best ways to contribute directly to improving the state of the ocean.
Cleaning the shore of the beach for just one hour can help eliminate the amount of plastic waste in the water and set a good example for those around you to join a conservation effort oceans. For those who don’t live near the ocean, raising awareness online or participating in a beach cleanup on your next vacation are two ways to help the cause.
You can participate in a beach cleanup or organize one by visiting the site Ocean Initiatives which lists operations of aquatic litter collections on beaches and along waterways.
Manual beach cleaning, which uses good old volunteer elbow grease, is the least invasive technique. She is much more respectful of ecosystems than the mechanical method with machines such as sieve shakers or rakes.
This type of mechanical cleaning makes it possible to pick up large waste quickly, but the use of these machines is not without negative impact on the beach and its surroundings.