In the world of environmental awareness, there are a few days that stand out above the rest. Earth Day and Arbor Day are two examples that often come to mind. But what about World Ocean Day? This lesser-known holiday is celebrated annually on June 8th, and its purpose is to remind people of the importance of our oceans. So why should you care about World Ocean Day? Keep reading to find out!
Understanding our Oceans
Our seven seas play a crucial role in regulating our climate. The ocean provides us with food, oxygen, and supports a vast array of plant and animal life. Understanding the importance of our oceans has never been more timely.
As we add greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, they trap heat, thus warming the air. In fact, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is now reaching levels 50% higher than when humanity began large-scale burning of fossil fuels during the Industrial Revolution. Here’s where the oceans come in! Our oceans act as heat sponges, absorbing the extra heat from greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere.
However, our oceans can only take so much. The upper 700 feet of our oceans have already warmed by 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit since 1900. Sounds like a small number, right? Wrong. Each extra degree has a detrimental effect on our oceans, its dwellers, and our own lives. Rising ocean temperatures lead to an increase in low-oxygen zones — a death sentence for marine life. And there’s more. More heat in the atmosphere and warmer ocean surface temperatures can lead to more frequent and more devastating natural disasters as well.
Our silent ally for so many years — our oceans — are silent no more and have begun to feel the effects of climate change. One day, we’ll all feel the effects of climate change, and, unfortunately, we aren’t far off.
This is why World Ocean Day 2022 is important.
History of World Ocean Day
Though it might seem like a recent invention, World Ocean Day has actually been around for quite some time. The United Nations first proclaimed June 8th as World Ocean Day in 1992, and since then, it has become an annual event celebrated by people across the globe. The purpose of World Ocean Day is to raise awareness about the importance of the ocean and its role in sustaining life on earth. It is also a day to celebrate the ocean’s beauty and wonder, and to appreciate all the ways it enriches our lives. As we continue to face challenges like climate change and plastic pollution, World Ocean Day is more important than ever. It is a reminder that we all have a responsibility to protect and preserve our planet’s oceans.
Celebrating World Ocean Day
- Knowledge is Power
There’s no time to waste when it comes to saving our planet. Climate change and ocean conservation are two of the most pressing issues of our time, and it’s up to us to educate ourselves and our friends about what we can do to make a difference. One way to learn more about climate change is to watch documentaries like Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth. Another is to attend lectures or workshops given by experts in the field. Check out this comprehensive list of virtual programming for this year’s celebration! For our part, we can do our best to reduce our own carbon footprints by recycling, using public transportation, and eating less meat. When it comes to ocean conservation, we can start by learning about the problems faced by marine life, such as overfishing, plastic pollution, and coral bleaching. We can then take steps to reduce our impact on the ocean, such as making responsible seafood choices, avoiding single-use plastics, and supporting efforts to clean up the world’s oceans. By taking action on these issues, we can help make a difference for our planet.
2. Put Your Money Where the Miracles Are
Luckily, there are a handful of organizations dedicated to conserving our beautiful oceans, and there’s no better time to support them than now. The Ocean Conservancy has a wide array of programs including Confronting Climate Change, Governmental Relations, Protecting Florida, Protecting the Arctic, Smart Ocean Planning, Sustainable Fisheries, and Trash Free Seas!
Companies like 4Ocean offer bracelets, anklets, and other jewelry pieces made from recycled materials, where every item purchased removes one pound of trash from the ocean. Now, that’s a whole new meaning to “wearing your heart on your sleeve!”
Or maybe consider purchasing a plushie from Oceana, a program dedicated to healthy oceans. But, these aren’t your traditional plushies. On their website, you can choose to “adopt” penguins, sharks, manatees, and more with the simple click of a button.
3. Use Your Voice
Our oceans and our marine animals are voiceless. This Ocean Day, be their voice through advocacy work. And you can start today, by telling Congress to increase the budget of NOAA, the National Atmospheric Administration. Simply fill out this form to take the first step in creating meaningful change.
And, sometimes, the best gift we can give is our time. The Ocean Conservancy has a special map to locate ocean clean-ups near you. If you’re on the East Coast, check out the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society for information on events from Meet and Greets with biologists to sea turtle walks and more.
Ocean Day Is Every Day
By expressing and sharing our love for our oceans, we’re putting the passion behind these educational, political, and volunteer efforts. To remind you of the magic of our very oceans, here are some top moments from under the sea in the last year!
- Floating, color-changing octopus near Pescadero, CA
- An INSIDE look into Hurricane Sam
- March UN Ocean Conference 2022 unveils a “fleet of solutions”
- See a sea slug head creep around its detached body
- A video of deep sea creatures lights up a United Nations building
Cool, right? So, this World Ocean Day 2022, let’s all pledge to do our part in conserving our oceans. It’ll take a global effort to make a real difference, but by working together we can make sure that future generations will be able to enjoy the beauty and bounty of the world’s oceans. How will you celebrate World Ocean Day 2022? Start the conversation today.
