Click above to watch the Official 4ocean World Oceans Day video
Discover what you can do to support the clean ocean movement on World Oceans Day — and every day.
The ocean covers more than 70% of the Earth’s surface and produces half the world’s oxygen. It’s also a powerful carbon sink that helps regulate our climate. Yet human threats like plastic pollution, climate change, and destructive fishing practices like overfishing are threatening this critical and irreplaceable natural resource.
Today, June 8th, is World Oceans Day! This day is recognized by the United Nations as a day for celebrating the role of the oceans in our everyday life and inspiring action to protect the ocean and sustainably use marine resources. Keep reading to learn how you can get involved and support the clean ocean movement today and every day.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Sign the 30x30 petition
In a report called 30x30: A Blueprint for Ocean Protection, top scientists say we need half of the planet in its natural state to prevent the extinction of one million species, stay below 1.5°C, and safeguard all people that rely on nature to survive and thrive. This year, we have an opportunity to get governments worldwide to agree to protect 30% of our blue planet by 2030 at the Convention on Biodiversity COP15 Summit in October 2020. However, it’s not enough to have the support of the scientific community. We need people from all over the world and all walks of life to unite and call for urgent action. Sign the 30x30 petition now.
Spread the word on social media
Share our official World Oceans Day video on your social channels to raise awareness about the importance of protecting this irreplaceable natural resource that gives life and sustenance to every single human being on this planet.
If you follow us on Facebook or Instagram, visit our Stories and take our pledge. Tell the world what you’re doing to end your reliance on single-use plastic and inspire others to get involved in the clean ocean movement.
You can also post your own video talking about why you love the ocean and what people can do to help protect it. Make sure you tag @4ocean and use #WorldOceansDay2020 on anything you post to help increase its visibility.
Tune into the UN World Oceans Day Live event
Our partners, UN World Oceans Day and Oceanic Global, are hosting a virtual livestream event from 10AM – 5PM EST. Throughout the day, you’ll hear from leading ocean voices like Sylvia Earle, Ellie Goulding, Lilly Platt, Cara Delevingne, Jaden Smith, Jean-Michel Cousteau, and Bill McKibben on the theme of Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean. Join the livestream now.
Have a conversation
Take a moment to reflect on your lifestyle and ask whether there’s more you can do to eliminate single-use plastic from your daily life. Talk to friends and family members too! Encourage them to go plastic-free alongside you and work together to support each other on this journey.
Get organized
We know getting out and active during these unprecedented times can be difficult. If you’re able to do so safely, organize a small cleanup with family and friends in your local neighborhood or join a pre-planned event near you. If that’s not possible, be aware of your surroundings and pick up trash when you see it. 4ocean HQ in Florida is having voluntary, employee-only cleanup this morning to do our part.
Make a donation
There are many incredible organizations working hard every single day to protect the ocean and the animals that call it home. If you’re able, consider making a donation to support their efforts and advance the clean ocean movement. We’ve partnered with many incredible organizations and have listed them in alphabetical order below.
- 5 Gyres Institute
- BirdLife International
- Bye Bye Plastic Bags
- Captains For Clean Water
- Carbonfund.org
- Conservation International
- Coral Restoration Foundation
- Earth Day Network
- Florida Atlantic University Marine Research Lab
- Global Penguin Society
- Great Barrier Reef Foundation
- Guy Harvey Oceanic Institute
- Lonely Whale
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Ocean Conservancy
- Oceanic Preservation Society
- Orca Conservancy
- Polar Bears International
- Project AWARE
- Project Seahorse
- Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project
- Save The Manatee Club
- SeaLegacy
- The Marine Mammal Center
- Whale and Dolphin Conservation
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Stay informed
Spend the part of the day searching the internet for resources that can help you go plastic-free and keep you up to date on the ocean plastic crisis. There are countless blogs, newsletters, and email alerts to sign up for. Staying informed will ensure you stay part of the conversation. Only by educating ourselves can we understand this complex issue and take effective action to solve it.
Support the clean ocean movement
As always, you can rely on 4ocean captains and crews to recover harmful marine debris on your behalf. Every product purchased is another pound of trash out of the ocean. Shop now and pull a pound of trash on World Oceans Day.