World Oceans Day is celebrated every June 8, with the aim of raising public awareness of the importance of protecting ocean ecosystems. This commemoration reminds us all of the great role of the ocean in daily life, as the lungs of the Earth, the main source of food and medicine, and an important part of the biosphere.

History of World Oceans Day

The history of World Oceans Day dates back to the Earth Conference in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, where the idea of this commemoration first emerged. In 1998, UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) sponsored the World Ocean Network, which since 2002 has been an important instrument in building support for the ocean awareness event on June 8. In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly designated June 8 as World Oceans Day through resolution 63/111 of December 5, 2008 in an effort to raise global awareness of the importance of ocean conservation and sustainable management.

World Oceans Day 2024 Theme

In 2024, the theme of World Oceans Day is "Awaken New Depths". This theme emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding and handling of the challenges faced by the ocean, rather than just touching the surface with superficial solutions. This theme invites the global community to take a holistic approach involving various stakeholders, including governments, indigenous communities, scientists, businesses, and the general public, to collaborate and take concrete actions towards ocean conservation and sustainable management.

Ocean depths (Photo Credit : Alex Rose/Unsplash)

The Importance of the Sea to Life on Earth

The oceans, which cover more than 70% of the Earth's surface, are the heart of our planet. They are not only essential to the survival of all life on Earth because of their role in regulating the climate and weather, but also as an irreplaceable source of livelihoods, food, and natural beauty. On World Oceans Day 2024, we are called to reflect on our relationship with the ocean and reinforce our commitment to protecting it.

The sea has an important role in the life of the Earth's creatures, including:

1. Regulating the global climate
   • The ocean plays an important role in regulating global temperature and weather patterns through ocean currents, evaporation, and atmospheric circulation.
   • Changes in temperature and patterns of ocean currents can affect weather around the world.
   

   Ocean climate change (Photo Credit : ocean-climate.org)

2. Home to billions of living things
   • The sea is a habitat for various types of living things, from microorganisms to large marine mammals.
   • Marine ecosystems such as coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangroves provide shelter and foraging for many species.
   

   Marine ecosystem (Photo Credit : Ritiks)

3. Energy and mineral sources
   • The ocean contains energy sources such as oil and natural gas as well as other sources of valuable minerals.
   • The use of this resource must be carried out in a sustainable manner so as not to damage the marine ecosystem.
   

   Deep sea mining (Photo Credit : GSR/Reuters)

4. Means of transportation and trade
   • The sea became an important transportation and trade route for humans, facilitating the movement of goods and people between countries.
   • Ports and sea lanes are important points for global economic activity.
   

   Multipurpose heavy-lift project carrier MV Beluga Indication transports Gottwald harbour cranes on the ocean (Photo Credit : Martini0814)

Today, ocean health faces unprecedented challenges. Plastic pollution, global warming, and overfishing have caused damage to fragile marine ecosystems. Colourful coral reefs are bleaching, marine species are facing extinction, and rising sea levels threaten coastal communities and vital mangrove ecosystems.

Commitment: Our Steps to Change

To reverse this damage and safeguard the future of the ocean, collective and individual action is needed. On this World Oceans Day, let's commit to:

• Reduce the use of single-use plastics and support recycling initiatives.
• Supporting policies that encourage sustainable management of marine resources.
• Participate in or support local conservation efforts such as mangrove planting or beach clean-up.
• Raising awareness about the importance of the ocean through education and advocacy.

Indonesia's Initiative in Protecting the Ocean

Indonesia has committed to reducing plastic pollution and supporting recycling initiatives in several ways:

• Reduction of Single-Use Plastics: Indonesia plans to reduce marine plastic leakage by 70% by 2025 and completely eliminate plastic pollution by 2040.
• Policy Support: There are plans to reduce waste by producers through redesign programs and take-back schemes for recycling and reuse with a target of 30% of total production of goods and packaging by 2029.

For sustainable management of marine resources, Indonesia has:

• Take action to protect the marine environment, including the sustainable use of marine biodiversity and food sources, carbon storage, protection of endangered species, clean waters control against pollution, sustainable production of maritime resources, and conservation of ecosystems, including mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass meadows.
• Focus on improving sustainable evidence-based fisheries policies and their implementation for priority areas and fisheries; improving the effectiveness of existing national and provincial marine protected area (MPA) management and regulatory compliance; and improving the protection of endangered, protected marine species and their habitats.

Regarding local conservation efforts, such as mangrove planting or beach clean-up:

• The government has set an ambitious target of rehabilitating 600,000 hectares of mangrove forests by 2024 and has included labour-intensive mangrove restoration as part of the country's National Recovery Plan.
• Indonesia has also launched Mangrove One Map to understand the extent and quality of mangrove forests throughout Indonesia. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry in 2021 has also issued official guidelines for the implementation of mangrove management involving community participation.

Raising awareness about the importance of the ocean is carried out through education and advocacy with various educational programs and awareness campaigns.

Indonesia is actively working towards these goals with support from the international community, non-governmental organizations, as well as the active participation of local communities.

Closing: Waves of Change

The celebration of World Oceans Day is not just a moment of introspection, this is a call to take concrete steps. Every action, no matter how small, carries the potential to create waves of change that resonate through the ocean of time. This is our chance to unite forces, build caring communities, and plant the seeds of sustainability that will grow into protective forests for our oceans.