World Oceans Day ‎

The United Nations chief is urging that as governments this year will be seeking to adopt landmark agreements on climate change and ending ‎poverty at a conference in Paris later this year, they should also look at the essential role of world’s oceans.‎  “The oceans are vast – but their capacity to withstand human damage is limited.  In this potentially ‎pivotal year, we must commit to using the gifts of the oceans peacefully, equitably and sustainably for ‎generations to come,” UN Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon urged in a message for World Oceans Day marked on June 8. 

“Oceans are an essential component of the Earth’s ecosystem, and healthy oceans are critical to sustaining a healthy planet,” he said noting that two out of every five people live relatively close to a shore, and three out of seven depend on marine and coastal resources to survive.    Hence oceans are an essential element in our emerging vision for sustainable development, including the new set of sustainable development goals now being prepared to guide the global fight against poverty for the next 15 years. World Oceans Day, Ban said, is a chance to strengthen our resolve to appreciate, protect and restore our oceans ‎and their resources.‎  (Source: UN)