World Oceans Day

World Oceans Day is an international day that takes place annually on 8 June. The concept was originally proposed in 1992 by Canada's International Centre for Ocean Development (ICOD) and the Ocean Institute of Canada (OIC) at the Earth Summit – UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[1] "World Oceans Day" was officially recognised by the United Nations in 2008. The international day supports the implementation of worldwide Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fosters public interest in the protection of the ocean and the sustainable management of its resources.[2]

"Ocean Day" redirects here. It is not to be confused with Marine Day, China National Maritime Day, or Día del Mar.

World Oceans Day
A sunset in the White Sea
Observed byAll UN member states
Date8 June
FrequencyAnnual

History

1987–1992

The Brundtland Commission (also known as the World Commission on Environment and Development) noted in the 1987 Brundtland Report that the ocean sector lacked a strong voice compared to other sectors.[3]

At the first World Ocean Day in 1992, the objectives were to move the ocean from the sidelines to the center of the intergovernmental and NGO discussions and policy and to strengthen the voice of ocean and coastal constituencies worldwide.

2002–2008

In the early years of coordinated efforts by The Ocean Project with World Ocean Network, events numbered in the dozens. During this time, www.WorldOceanDay.org launched, to help promote the event and generate more global involvement through the dissemination of educational and actionable resources, ideas, and tools free for everyone to use to celebrate World Ocean Day. In 2004, The Ocean Project and World Ocean Network launched the "Help Make a Difference for our Ocean Planet!” with both online and in person opportunities to sign a petition to the United Nations to officially recognize 8 June as World Ocean Day.[4] In December 2008, the UN General Assembly passed a Declaration to officially recognise the Day.[5][6]

2008

The Ocean Project and World Ocean Network launched an annual theme for first time. “Helping our climate / helping our ocean" with a special focus on coral reefs, to help support International Year of the Reef

2009/2010

Continued and more heavily emphasize climate with conservation action theme of “one ocean, one climate, one future” because comprehensive polling work showed that the public not making the connections between climate change and ocean health

2010

The Ocean Project and World Ocean Network recorded over 300 events for WOD 2010, a 26% increase over 2009. Participation in the United States increased by 32% (with participation in 37 states, as compared to 25 states the previous year). Forty-five countries participated in World Oceans Day 2010, including Bangladesh, Belgium, French Polynesia, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Malta, Malaysia, Venezuela, and Portugal.

2011/2012

Based on growing requests from around the world for a two-year focus, The Ocean Project and World Ocean Network launched “Youth: the Next Wave for Change” encouraging all participating organizations to more effectively engage young people in their communities and countries for education and action.

2013

“Make a Promise” global campaign focused again on supporting organizations to use World Oceans Day events as opportunities to ask people in their communities or target audiences to take action for our shared ocean.

2014

Through the global WOD network, stepped up involvement on the major issues facing the ocean, and launched "Together We Have the Power to Protect the Ocean!" with action guides on renewable energy/climate change, sustainable seafood/fisheries, plastics action. The United Nations together with partners launched the annual amateur World Oceans Day Oceanic Photo Competition.[7][8]

2015-2019

In solidarity with the annual UN themes, The Ocean Project launched a five-year Conservation Action Focus on plastics pollution prevention and helping with solutions for a healthy world ocean. The World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council launched in 2016, and current cohort includes 25 diverse young leaders (ages 15-23) from 20 countries.

2020

The UN theme for 'World Ocean Day' was 'Innovation for a sustainable ocean'.[9] Conservation Action Focus on protecting 30% of our lands and ocean by 2030 ("30x30"), joining with the Campaign for Nature and the growing global movement to petition world leaders to commit their countries to 30x30. The Ocean Project and National Geographic coordinate a first-ever 24-hour Youth-a-thon for the ocean, with 24 co-hosts from 24 major time zones discussing and demonstrating ways to learn more about and help protect our shared blue planet.

Themes

The United Nations selected the following annual themes for the Day:

  • 2009: "Our Oceans, Our Responsibilities".[10]
  • 2010: "Our Oceans: Opportunities and Challenges"[10]
  • 2011: "Our Oceans: greening our future"[10]
  • 2012: "UNCLOS @ 30"[10]
  • 2013: "Oceans & People"[10]
  • 2014: "Ocean Sustainability: Together let's ensure oceans can sustain us into the future"[10]
  • 2015: "Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet"[11]
  • 2016: "Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet"[11]
  • 2017: "Our Oceans, Our Future"[12]
  • 2018: "Clean our Ocean!"[12]
  • 2019: Gender and Oceans"[13]
  • 2020: "Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean"[14]

See also

References
  1. Swan, Judith. "About". United Nations. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  2. "World Oceans Day, 8 June". www.un.org. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  3. ARE, Federal Office for Spatial Development. "1987: Brundtland Report". www.are.admin.ch. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  4. "OUR OCEAN OUR FUTURE – bfitdoon.com". Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  5. "HOME". www.un.org. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  6. "A/RES/63/111: Oceans and the law of the sea" (PDF). United Nations. 9 September 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  7. United Nations. "United Nations World Oceans Day Oceanic Photo Competition". United Nations World Oceans Day Oceanic Photo Competition 2014–2017. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  8. United Nations. "United Nations World Oceans Day Oceanic Photo Competition". United Nations World Oceans Day Oceanic Photo Competition 2018+. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  9. "World Oceans Day 2020: History, significance & this year's theme".
  10. "PAST EVENTS". www.un.org. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  11. "World Oceans Day – 8 June". www.un.org. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  12. "HOME". www.un.org. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  13. "Home | World Oceans Day Online Portal". www.unworldoceansday.org. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  14. "Home | World Oceans Day Online Portal". www.unworldoceansday.org. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
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