The United Nations celebrates World Ocean Day every year to highlight the oceans’ important role in our everyday lives and encourage action to protect the ocean and sustainably utilize marine resources. Several nations have celebrated this special day since 1992, following the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro. In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly announced that, as of 2009, the 8^th of June would be celebrated by the United Nations as “World Oceans Day.”

The theme for World Ocean Day 2022, chosen by the United Nations, is- “Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean.” The United Nations World Ocean Day 2022 is hosted by the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs. The annual event is being hosted along with the generous contribution of Oceanic Global (non-profit), which is made possible by La Mer.

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The 8^th of June 2022 will mark the first hybrid celebration of the annual event, hosted in person at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and broadcast live. Tune in to listen to leaders, experts, celebrities, and community members discuss the recent topics related to the ocean to motivate, inspire and ignite collaborative change. A celebratory concert will be held at the end of World Ocean Day 2022, featuring a few world-renowned artists. The show will also be held in New York and broadcast live.

Ellen Cuylaerts and a jury of internationally recognized personalities and artists will conduct the United Nations Ocean Day Photo Competition. It is an excellent opportunity for photographers to showcase the beauty of the ocean. The competition will also help raise awareness of the various approaches and solutions adopted across the world to revitalize and care for the ocean.

The ocean sustains and connects all living creatures. Yet, the ocean is currently in a bad state due to human-induced climate change. Human activities such as air and water pollution, plastic pollution, overexploitation, and more have put the ocean’s health at a tipping point. If the ocean’s health is compromised, so will the health and well-being of all species that depend on it.

Looking back at the previous years, we need to work together and collaborate with other nations to create a new balance with the ocean that no longer depletes its resources but instead restores and balances its vibrancy and brings new life. World Ocean Day 2022 tries to highlight the ideas, innovations, solutions, and communities that are working together to protect, preserve, and revitalize the ocean and everything it supports.

As mentioned previously, World Ocean Day takes place every year of the 8^th of June; however, that is not the only day you can dedicate to the ocean. There are several events that take place throughout the year that you can take part in and support this cause. You can participate in local clean-ups, attend lectures, sign petitions, and even organize events of your own dedicated to our ocean.