World Oceans Day 2024: Catalyzing Action for Our Ocean & Climate

The oceans, covering more than 70% of our planet, are the lifeblood of Earth. They generate at least 50% of the planet’s oxygen, support the majority of the planet’s biodiversity, and provide sustenance for humans and all other living things on the planet.

World Oceans Day is a global event that celebrates the beauty and importance of our oceans. This year, the United Nations World Oceans Day 2024 will be held on Friday, 7 June, in partnership with Oceanic Global. The theme for this year's event is “Catalysing Action for Our Ocean & Climate”, focusing on the urgent need to protect our oceans and address climate change.

The Importance of Oceans

Oceans play a crucial role in sustaining life on Earth. Often referred to as the lungs of the planet, oceans provide us with oxygen and carbon storage, essential for our survival. They are also a vital source of food, medicine, and economic activity. However, due to pollution and human activities, our oceans are facing serious threats, including plastic pollution, overfishing, and climate change.

Simon Lorenz (Germany)

Finalist | No Time to Waste | 2023 UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition

1/3 Sea turtles face a multitude of man-made threats. The plastic trash floating in the ocean is often mistaken for food by sea turtles like this Olive Ridley in Sri Lanka. After ingesting the plastic, the turtles become too buoyant to dive. With their carapace floating above the water, they eventually dry out and die of heat exposure and starvation. 2/3 and 3/3 - This Olive Ridley sea turtle was found entangled in a ghost net far off the coast of Sri Lanka. It was likely resting on the man-made island when it became helplessly entangled. Fortunately, it could be freed by my local guide and released without injury. @insiderdivers

History of World Oceans Day

World Oceans Day was first declared at the Global Forum in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Since then, it has been celebrated every year on June 8 to raise awareness about the importance of our oceans and the need to protect them. The theme for the first World Oceans Day in 2009 was 'Our Oceans, Our Responsibility', emphasizing the shared responsibility we all have to conserve and protect our oceans.

Glenn Ostle (USA)

Winner | Big & Small Underwater Faces | 2023 UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition

Only a short boat ride from LaPaz, Mexico, is a pair of rocky islets known as Los Islotes. With a population of between four and five hundred animals, it is home to the largest reproductive colony of California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) in the Sea of Cortez. The water seemed to boil with life and it was hypnotic to watch the sea lions dart into huge aggregations of silver fish, only to burst back through the schools, splitting, and dividing them. At times, the sea lions seemed to pause and appear somewhat overwhelmed at the sight of so many fish within easy reach, as this young sea lion seemed to be doing.

Protecting Our Ocean

As individuals, there are simple actions we can take to protect our ocean. By making sustainable seafood choices, supporting companies and charities that promote ocean health, and spreading awareness among friends and family, we can contribute to the conservation efforts. It is essential to educate ourselves about the importance of oceans and take action to ensure their long-term sustainability.

World Oceans Day 2024 is an opportunity to come together and take concrete steps towards preserving our oceans and combating climate change. By raising awareness, advocating for sustainable practices, and supporting conservation initiatives, we can make a positive impact on the health of our oceans and the planet as a whole. Remember, our oceans, our responsibility.

Álvaro Herrero (Spain)

Winner | No Time To Waste | 2023 UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition

Humpback Whale. Pacific Ocean, Baja California, Mexico. A humpback whale with a buoy entangled to its tail, already decomposed, dies slowly and agonizingly. A clear reflection of the slow and painful death that we are giving to our oceans, our planet. @mekanphotography

Question: What can individuals do to protect our oceans?

Answer:

Encourage sustainable seafood choices, support ocean health initiatives, and educate others about the importance of ocean conservation.

In conclusion, World Oceans Day 2024 is a time to reflect on the significance of our oceans and take action to ensure their preservation for future generations. By working together to address the challenges facing our oceans, we can create a healthier and more sustainable planet for all. Let's all do our part to catalyze action for our ocean and climate, and make a positive impact on the world around us.

Sina Ritter (Germany)

Finalists | The Wonderful World of Tides | 2023 UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition

Witnessing the sheer delight of experiencing the ocean's embrace, as a tiny black sea turtle hatchling takes its very first steps into the surf of Costa Rica´s Osa Peninsula. Bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun, this little adventurer takes advantage of the high tide, making its journey shorter and escaping the watchful eyes of predators. @palms2peaks

We can no longer afford to adopt an "out of sight, out of mind" approach to our relationship with the ocean. It's time for a transformative change. Our efforts so far have barely scratched the surface, and to drive significant progress, we must explore new depths of understanding and action.

UN World Oceans Day 2024 aims to take us on a journey of discovery, exploring the ocean's vastness and tapping into the knowledge and expertise of global policymakers, scientists, thought leaders, and artists. Together, we'll expand our perspectives and appreciation for our blue planet, laying the groundwork for a renewed relationship with the ocean and igniting a wave of action toward essential change.

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Shane Gross (Canada)

A mother and son gather sea urchins for their family at low tide in a seagrass meadow in Bali, Indonesia. Seagrass is an often-overlooked coastal habitat important for food security, biodiversity, storm protection, and fisheries. Seagrass meadows also store carbon more efficiently than rainforests, helping in our fight against climate change. Seagrass is something conservationists and fishers agree needs to be protected. @shanegrossphoto

Andy Schmid (Switzerland)

A female orca splitting a herring bait ball while diving through it to get one, shot from underneath while freediving. Every winter enormous schools of herring migrate from the open ocean into the fjords of northern Norway and attract large numbers of big predators such as orcas and humpback whales. Witnessing orcas feeding on herring using the so-called carousel feeding technique is very exciting, but not easy to capture due to various factors: limited light and visibility, fast paced action plus cold surface and water temperature. Being able to freedive and capture the action of an ongoing feeding frenzy in these conditions is difficult but this winter I managed to create a series of photos I had never dreamt of capturing. @andy.schmid