World Oceans Day 2018 is being celebrated today in dozens of countries worldwide - the biggest since it was first launched globally in 2008.
This year over one thousand events and activities are currently taking place – from first time celebrations such as the International Ocean Week being held in Cameroon to the Run to the Deep race event in London.
Following a United Nations General Assembly resolution passed in December 2008, World Oceans Day is now officially recognized by the UN as 8 June each year. Official recognition of World Oceans Day by the United Nations provided an important boost to those organizations and individuals who have been deeply committed to ocean conservation.
The Ocean Project working in partnership to promote and coordinate the day with hundreds of organizations. Over the years, the global network of partners has grown to include approximately 2,000 organizations and an increasing number of countries and organizations now mark the 8 June as World Oceans Day.
The Oceans Project uses its connections for year-round engagement to help grow the reach and impact of World Oceans Day and conduct outreach to all sectors and broker connections throughout the year.
The action focus for 2018 is preventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions for a healthy ocean. Plastic pollution is causing tremendous harm to marine resources, including:
- 80% of all pollution in the ocean comes from people on land.
- 8 million tonnes of plastic per year ends up in the ocean
- plastic pollution costs the lives of 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals per year.
- Plastic is entering the food chain via fish which are ingesting microplastics
- Plastic causes $8 billion in damage to marine ecosystems each year.
Click here for more information about The Oceans Project
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Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.