World Oceans Day being observed today

The World Oceans Day is being celebrated on Wednesday (June 8) across the globe. The day is observed to prompt the role oceans play in our everyday life—reminding every year of the destruction caused by human activities like garbage and sewage disposal and oil leaks.

This year, the theme is "Revitalization: Collective action for the ocean”. 

The purpose of the day is to raise awareness among people about the “impact of human actions on the ocean” and to mobilise citizens for their sustainable management.

Oceans make up over 70% of the planet and are essential to support and promote life. It is a major source of food and medicine and a critical part of the biosphere. 

However, over the years, the oceans have to bear the brunt of man-made destruction. From industrial waste to throwing unwanted litter, its degradation is destabilizing the earth's dynamics with its natural resources that will lead to an eventual and unfortunate end. 

Celebration for oceans and their conservation kick-started in 1992 globally following a conference by the United Nations (UN) on environment and development in Rio De Janeiro. However, in 2008 UN General Assembly decided that June 8 be officially recognised as ‘World Oceans Day’.

The UN has planned an annual event to commemorate World Oceans Day, coordinated by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs. 

As per the Ocean Literacy portal, the focus of the UN's event on World Oceans Day will be safeguarding our ocean, its ecosystems and biodiversity and building climate change resiliency.

According to the UN, oceans produce about 50% of the planet’s oxygen and are home to earth’s biodiversity. It is the main source of protein for over 1 billion people in the world. Oceans also absorb nearly 30% of carbon dioxide produced by humans, which helps in mitigating global warming.

Since 2002, the World Ocean Network has built support for ocean awareness events on June 8 with the help of sponsorship from UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.

Apart from UNESCO, other agencies under the aegis of the UN such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and FAO also work to protect marine and coastal ecosystems.