The United Nations (UN’s) World Oceans Day (WOD) is annually observed across the globe on June 8 to raise awareness about human impacts on oceans, foster a global conservation movement, and promote sustainable ocean management.
- The UN designates this day to highlight the ocean’s role as Earth’s “lungs,” a vital source of food and medicine, and a key component of the biosphere.
- WOD 2025 was hosted by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) under the Office of Legal Affairs of the UN, the event is jointly organised with Oceanic Global, a non-profit organisation.
2025 Theme:
The theme for WOD 2025, “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us”, highlights the ocean’s beauty, mystery, and its vital, irreplaceable role in supporting life on Earth.
Background:
i.The idea of an WOD was first proposed by Canada on 8 June 1992 during the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, UNCED).
ii.On 5 December 2008, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/63/111, officially designating 8 June as World Oceans Day.
iii.The inaugural WOD celebration was held on June 8, 2009.
Note: The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) sponsors the World Ocean Network, supporting ocean-awareness events since 2002.
Significance:
i.Oxygen & Life Support: Oceans covers more than 70% of Earth’s surface and produce over 50% of Earth’s oxygen and absorb roughly 30% of human-generated carbon dioxide.
ii.Biodiversity & Food: An essential protein source for over 1 billion people, oceans host the majority of marine species and support extensive fisheries
iii.Economic Impact: By 2030, around 40 million jobs are expected to depend on ocean-based industries
iv.Environmental Regulation: Oceans regulate climate, weather, and water resources. However, they face threats from pollution, acidification, and overfishing—leading to habitat loss, declining fisheries, and reef degradation.
Key Organisers & Initiatives:
i.IOC-UNESCO: The only UN body coordinating ocean observation, research, and services among member states; also leading the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030).
ii.Oceanic Global: Collaborates globally to facilitate the UN-hosted celebrations.
iii.The Ocean Project: Since 2002, it has coordinated World Oceans Day to unite global conservation efforts.
Multi-Year Action Theme (2024–2030):
As defined in the 2024 edition and continuing in 2025, the theme “Catalysing Action for Our Ocean & Climate,” urges collective strategies:
- Optimise existing climate solutions
- Transition to clean, renewable energy
- Eliminate fossil fuel extraction and single-use plastics
- 30×30 Initiative: Protect 30% of global oceans and lands by 2030
- Foster science-based solutions at all levels
30×30 Global Ocean Goal:
i.A key focus of WOD is the 30×30 Global Ocean Goal, a worldwide initiative aimed at conserving 30% of the Earth’s land, freshwater, and marine ecosystems by the year 2030.
ii.This global target was a major outcome of the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) and aligns with international efforts to address biodiversity loss and climate change.
UN Launches Co-Design for One Ocean Finance Platform
On 8 June 2025, during the Blue Economy Finance Forum in Monaco, a coalition of UN agencies and global partners initiated the co-design process for a new global initiative, One Ocean Finance.
- The initiative aims to use unused funds from ocean-based industries to support cleaner industries, restore ocean health, and protect coastal areas.
- It is led by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), UNESCO-IOC, UN Global Compact, UN Tourism, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and World Resources Institute (WRI), the initiative calls governments, industries, finance, and civil society to co-develop a finance facility ahead of the Fourth UN Ocean Conference in 2028 (UNOC4) in Republic of Korea.
Note: Despite the ocean’s key role in trade, food security, and climate, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 (Life Below Water) received less than USD 10 billion from 2015–2019, far from the USD 175 billion needed annually.
2025 Events:
As part of WOD 2025, UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) will be held in Nice, France from June 9 to 13, 2025 under the theme “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.”
- The third edition of the conference is co-hosted by France and Costa Rica to promote Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)14 (life below water).
i.Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC), Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Earth Science (MoES), Government of India (GoI) leads India’s delegation at the UN Ocean Conference 2025. Activities include
- On 8 June 2025, an India-Norway side event was held aboard Norway’s research vessel S/S Statsraad Lehmkuhl at Monaco Harbour, showcasing the outcomes of the India-Norway collaboration on sustainable marine governance through Marine Spatial Planning.
- The event was graced by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway.
ii.In addition, Union Minister Jitendra Singh holds bilateral meetings with France, Germany, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Chile on marine pollution, blue economy financing, and Indo-Pacific cooperation.
