WORLD OCEANS DAY 2021: HOW YOU CAN PROTECT OUR OCEANS

Every year the significance of oceans and marine wildlife is appreciated and celebrated internationally. Despite the Covid- 19 pandemic ravaging around the world, this year is no different, and the importance of our oceans will be reaffirmed with World Oceans Day 2021. Social Enterprises (SEs) around the world have proven their dedication to fighting for the ocean, and their work will be recognised in this article.

The theme of World Oceans Day 2021 is ‘Life and Livelihoods’; the aim is to ‘shed light on the wonder of the ocean and how it is our life source, supporting humanity and every other organism on Earth’.

WORLD OCEANS DAY: THE HISTORY

Indisputably, the ocean is key to our survival. Around the world, oceans absorb 30% of carbon dioxide produced by humans, acting as a barrier against global warming and supporting a major ecosystem.

World Oceans Day was originally proposed in 1992 by Canada’s International Centre for Ocean Development (ICOD) and the Ocean Institute of Canada (OIC) at the Earth Summit- UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Brundtland Commission (a sub organisation within the United Nations, aiming to unite countries for sustainable development) noted in the 1987 Brundtland Report that the voice representing the ocean sector was lacking compared to other areas such as food security, energy, and population.

Hence, World Ocean Day was born, celebrating the significance that oceans and marine life have and why we need to protect them. Since then, oceans have been recognised by major developmental and climate-related organisations. For instance, it was officially acknowledged by the UN in 2008, becoming a part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 14 ‘Life Below Water’ is dedicated to spreading public interest in protecting the ocean and the sustainable management of its resources.

 Every year, an alternative theme is chosen with previous years championing different aspects: ‘Our Oceans, Our Responsibilities’ (2009); Oceans and People (2013); Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet (2015 and 2016) and ‘Gender and Oceans’ (2019). This year's theme is similar to prior years, with ‘Life and Livelihoods’ taking centre stage.

LIFE AND LIVELIHOODS

Covering 70% of the planet, the ocean is our life source. Not only does it support the livelihoods of every single organism on earth, including humans, but it also produces 50% of our oxygen.

The ocean is home to most of the earth’s biodiversity and is the main source of protein for over 3 billion people around the world. Social enterprise’s such as The Biodiversity Group work to conserve wildlife species and ecosystems, while improving the livelihoods of communities that rely on such areas.

It is also a key part of our economy, with an estimated 40 million people being employed by ocean industries by 2030. There are also organisations dedicated to helping individuals get into these industries. One such is Empower, who are committed to creating a global plastic waste recycling system which produces job opportunities and financial services.

Despite these benefits, our ocean is now desperate for our support. Over the decades, extensive fishing has caused 90% of big fish populations to drop, while ocean acidification has meant that 50% of coral reefs have been destroyed, including the Great Barrier Reef. Even today, 60% of the world’s major marine ecosystems have been degraded or are being used unsustainably.

Also, if the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere continues to rise at the current rate, the ocean will become corrosive to many marine organisms by the end of this century. Although, there is an optimism associated with saving our oceans so that generations and generations can view and use them sustainably, there are now manmade ways to produce water. Sponsh operates to develop nature inspired devices that absorb and release water with cycles of daylight; their mission is to provide water from air to a billion trees by 2040.  

All of this points to the devastating fact that by the year 2100, more than half of the world’s marine species may stand at the brink of extinction.

But it does not have to be this way. We have more than enough resources to help reverse the damage done to the oceans and understand this vital life source further. To achieve this, we must create a new balance between human consumption and the water, while building a more sustainable connection to this life source.

WHAT WE CAN DO?

 Here are a few things that we can do to help save our oceans:

• Reduce our plastic usage: Simple steps like avoiding plastic straws and replacing plastic Tupperware with steel/ glass containers can help go a long way to save our oceans. The Great Bubble Barrier is working on a larger scale to help this, catching plastic pollution in waterways with their Bubble Barrier technology.

• Avoid items that harm marine life: The list of plastic products that harm ocean life is endless. Here are a few- shopping bags, cutlery, straws, balloons, bottles, and lids. To stand a chance to save our oceans, we need to invent new ways of consumption, using renewable and sustainable materials.

• Shop responsibly: Only buying what you need is not just a cost-efficient way to shop but also an ethical way. Leiho connects essential products to vulnerable communities that are living without them- every item from their store helps someone in need.

• Support organisations that are working to save our oceans: Supporting such organisations is critical to protecting and preserving these areas, along with the people at the forefront of this battle. One such social enterprise is The SockStar Project who works to aid wildlife rangers around the world.

• Reducing our carbon footprint: Small actions like buying seasonal fruit and vegetables, along with using less water help in lessening our carbon footprint. The overall effect of these small actions really helps lower greenhouse emissions.

• Educate ourselves and facilitate discussions on the issue: It is important to educate ourselves on social issues such as the ocean, the wider environment, and how this all links to the greater problem of climate change. Many organisations are working to educate the public on these issues. For instance, EcoManka provides educational programmes for adolescents that combine video games and eco- entrepreneurship activities.

There is no doubt that these small individual steps coupled with the work that is being completed by social enterprises can help save our oceans. The real issue is making it last, something that we should all commit to.

Originally published on the We Make Change blog.