World Oceans Day 2024; June 8th.

FORUM: "Awaken new depths." World Oceans Day 2024. This year theme acknowledges that while we know little of the ocean compared to its immense vastness, what we do know is that the consequences of our actions are evident throughout its waters – and that human activity is increasingly devastating the ocean as well as placing the survival of our entire blue planet at risk. Join the conversation with the hashtags: #WorldOceansDay, #8june, #OceanFirst.

EVENTS: At UNHQ, an hybrid -event hosted both virtually and in-person will be held on June 8th from 10:00 AM to 13:30 PM EDT to celebrate the United Nations World Oceans Day 2024. The event will take us on a journey of discovery through the ocean's vastness, tapping into the wisdom and expertise of global policy-makers, scientists, managers, thought leaders, and artists to awaken new depths of understanding, compassion, collaboration and commitment for the ocean and all it sustains. The celebration is hosted by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs (DOALOS) in partnership with Oceanic Global. 

Schedule: Depths of Commitment. 

10:00 AM - Opening Remarks & Performance.

10:25 AM - Planetary Boundary Keynotes.

10:50 AM - Depths of Understanding: Science & Wisdom Fireside Chat. 

11:15 AM - Depths of Compassion: New Depths Spotlights 

11:50 AM - Winners Announced: Photo Competition. 12:05 PM - Musical Performanc. 

12:10 PM - Depths of Collaboration: Blue Economy Panel. 13:00 PM - Closing Remarks & Performance. 

Register to participate and Watch the events! 

PUBLICATION: Issued three times a year, the Bulletin provides cogent and timely information on issues related to the Convention on the Law of the Sea - ‘the constitution for the ocean’ - and contains the most recent legal materials relevant to the law of the sea. It includes national legislation, bilateral agreements and multilateral treaties as well as information on decisions of the International Court of Justice, arbitral tribunals and other dispute settlement procedures. Law of the Sea Bulletin - Current Issue.

SEMINARS, CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

Advancing the united nations world ocean assessment - Supporting future ocean sustainability and informing decision making and oceans policy.

World Seagrass Day 2023; March 1st.

FORUM: “Saving Seagrass.” World Seagrass Day 2024. Seagrasses have been declining globally since the 1930s, with the most recent census estimating that 7% of this key marine habitat is being lost worldwide per year. It was recently noted that 21% of seagrass species are categorized as Near Threatened, Vulnerable and Endangered Species under the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. The combined pressures of coastal development, pollution, including land-based run-off, climate change, dredging and unregulated fishing and boating activities are key drivers of the degradation of seagrasses and their associated ecosystems. Seagrass improve water quality by filtering, cycling and storing nutrients and pollutants, reducing contamination in seafood.

• The benefits from conserving and restoring seagrass meadows can also help countries achieve 26 targets and indicators associated with ten Sustainable Development Goals.
• Given the carbon storage and sequestration capacity of seagrass ecosystems, including them in nationally determined contributions (NDCs) can help nations achieve their targets under the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• Inclusion of seagrass ecosystems in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is also critical for protecting the integrity of marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
• Restoration of seagrasses also provides countries with opportunities to achieve commitments to be made to the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #BlueTransformation, #savingseagrass, #Seagrass, #worldSeagrassesDay, #1march.

EVENTS: On March 1st, to observe the World Seagrass Day 2024, a panel discussion will be held at UNHQ to find the ways to save seagrass meadows. The IORA Indian Ocean Blue Carbon Hub is holding a photography competition to highlight these extraordinary ecosystems.

 

PUBLICATION: Seagrasses are one of the most widespread coastal habitats on the planet. They provide a range of environmental, economic and social benefits to humans, making them one of the most valuable coastal and marine ecosystems on Earth, but they are under threat. The report, Out of the Blue: The Value of Seagrasses to the Environment and to People (UNEP), provides recommendations to help restore them.