World Oceans Day
Celebrated every June 8th since 2009, World Oceans Day unites the world in protection of our shared ocean.
History
1992
Concept proposed at Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro by Canada's International Centre for Ocean Development
2002
World Ocean Network began coordinating global celebrations
2008
UN General Assembly officially designates June 8 as World Oceans Day
2009
First official UN World Oceans Day celebration
2021
UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development begins
2026
Theme: The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods
Why the Ocean Matters
3B
people depend on ocean for food
The ocean absorbs 90% of the excess heat from climate change. It absorbs 25% of human-produced CO2. It regulates weather, provides food, enables trade, and holds mysteries we have barely begun to explore.
"How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is quite clearly Ocean." - Arthur C. Clarke