World Ocean Day 2023: Every year, June 8 is marked as an opportunity to remember the crucial role played by the oceans in maintaining life on Earth.
The need for addressing the challenges that our oceans are facing and acting collectively to protect them is underlined by the World Ocean Day 2023 theme, ‘The Planet Ocean’s Changing Tide.’
According to the United Nations, the oceans cover about 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface and are the lifeblood of our planet. They regulate the climate, provide food and oxygen, and are home to an incredible variety of marine life. However, our seas face strong threats from human activities, habitat destruction, and climate change. The theme of this year’s World Ocean Day emphasises the necessity of a global effort to reverse these trends and protect the invaluable resource that is our planet’s oceans.
The United Nations states that oceans are responsible for at least 50 per cent of Earth’s oxygen production, making it crucial to ensure the survival of all life forms. Additionally, over a billion people globally rely on the ocean as their primary source of protein.
Our oceans are getting polluted by an enormous amount of waste (Source: Unsplash)
The ocean also has a significant impact on our economy, and by 2030, it is projected that nearly 40 million people will work in ocean-related industries.
Fostering ocean literacy and increasing awareness about the importance of oceans is, thus, a key theme for World Ocean Day 2023. To build a sustainablefuture, it is crucial to make people aware of the oceans’ importance and their connection to all aspects of human life, particularly for younger generations. By instilling a sense of responsibility and understanding, we can encourage individuals and communities to take action and become advocates for the conservation of our seas.
Significance
Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing problems facing our oceans. Millions of tonnes of plastic waste end up in the oceans each year, which threatens marine life and ecosystems. It’ll take hundreds of years to degrade plastic and its effect on marine diversity is devastating. To protect our oceans from this environmental crisis, the World Ocean Day of 2023 calls upon all states to make collective efforts in reducing single-use plastics and promoting sustainable alternatives.
Around the world, this day is celebrated with various activities like beach cleanups, educational programs, art displays, and scientific research projects. These initiatives increase public awareness, encourage responsibility, and spark beneficial changes.