The ocean covers over 70% of the planet and produces at least 50% of the planet's oxygen. It drives our weather and climate, is home to most of earth's biodiversity and is the main source of protein for more than a billion people around the world. The "blue economy," which is estimated at US$ 3-6 trillion/year, accounts for more than three quarters of world trade and providing livelihoods for over 6 billion people.
"The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods" is the theme for this year's World Oceans Day on 8 June.
"We have a once in a generation opportunity and responsibility to correct our relationship with the natural world - including the world's seas and oceans," said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in a message.
The World Meteorological Organization celebrates the ocean theme for the second time this year as the Ocean, Our Climate and Weather was also the theme of World Meteorological Day on 23 March, which included a dedicated 'ocean' issue of the WMO Bulletin as a formally endorsed WMO contribution to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021 to 2030).
WMO World Oceans Day activities also feature the new WMO video, narrated by UN Ocean Envoy, Ambassador Peter Thomson, highlighting the vital role of the ocean in our interconnected world, the increasing impact of climate change, and the need for better ocean services, science and observations to protect lives at sea and in coastal areas. This will be shown within the UN's Virtual World Ocean Day Ceremony.
WMO has also launched a new Ocean page: an easy access point from which to learn of the various ocean activities that WMO is working across, to support Members.
