Shipping Australia notes and celebrates the occurrence of World Oceans Day 2022, which took place earlier this week on Wednesday 08 June 2022.
The United Nations celebrates World Oceans Day on 08 June every year. It was first declared by the UN on 08 June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the Global Forum, an event at the UN Conference on Environment and Development.
In 2008, the UN General Assembly resolved that 08 June would be the World Oceans Day. According to the official UN World Oceans Day website, there were a broad range of concerns expressed in 2008, including implementation of the UN Convention on the UN Law of the Sea, international shipping, maritime security, marine science and technology, marine biotechnical diversity, marine environment, climate change, and international co-operation. The first World Oceans Day took place on 08 June 2009.
This year, the theme of World Oceans Day was “Revitalization: collective action for the ocean”.
IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim commented: “the ocean connects, sustains, and supports us all. Shipping is one of the prime users of the oceans delivering over 80 per cent of world trade and linking global supply chains. The International Maritime Organization has developed a comprehensive regulatory regime to ensure the marine environment is protected from shipping activities. Among other initiatives, we are working together with countries and partners on local actions that can serve as models and wider inspiration to keep protecting the ocean. On World Ocean Day, we must all recognize that revitalizing the ocean is critical for the planet.”
According to the IMO, the world’s oceans provide more than three billion people around the world with marine and coastal biodiversity, and half the world’s population depend upon the ocean for their primary source of protein. Oceans absorb about 30% of carbon dioxide produce by humans and they support about five per cent of global gross domestic product – that’s about US$3 trillion a year.
Shipping Australia notes that our country, being an island, is particularly dependent upon the oceans for our trade. About 99.92% by volume and 84% by value of everything that moves into, or out of, this country travels by sea.
