{"id":17739,"date":"2016-06-06T20:51:32","date_gmt":"2016-06-06T20:51:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/?p=17739"},"modified":"2018-04-22T11:59:35","modified_gmt":"2018-04-22T15:59:35","slug":"concern-about-marine-ecosystems-at-center-of-world-oceans-day-observances","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/blog\/2016\/06\/concern-about-marine-ecosystems-at-center-of-world-oceans-day-observances\/","title":{"rendered":"Concern about marine ecosystems at center of World Oceans Day observances"},"content":{"rendered":"

Growing concern over the health of marine ecosystems at the center of United Nations observances to mark World Oceans Day 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

Day to include New York stop for traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe circumnavigating globe to highlight need to protect oceans<\/em><\/p>\n

6 June, New York<\/strong> \u2013 To highlight growing concern for the health of the world\u2019s marine ecosystems, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ will mark World Oceans Day on 8 June with a range of events that both celebrate the benefits that oceans provide, as well as amplify the need to take greater action to protect this global resource.<\/p>\n

Recognizing the importance of the world\u2019s oceans, seas and coastal areas to the world\u2019s seven billion people, the 193 Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Member States included the need to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources as a distinct goal\u2014Goal 14\u2014in the Sustainable Development Goals that anchor the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.<\/p>\n

Oceans cover more than two-thirds of the earth\u2019s surface and contain 97 percent of the planet\u2019s water. Oceans contribute to poverty eradication by creating sustainable livelihoods and decent work. More than three billion people depend on marine and coastal resources for their livelihoods. In addition, oceans are crucial for global food security and are the primary regulator of the global climate.<\/p>\n

This World Oceans Day, the H\u014dk\u016ble\u2018a, a traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe currently on a global trip promoting sustainable seas, will arrive across from the United Nations to highlight how the oceans unite people. The vessel\u2019s arrival and a subsequent event at the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ will provide an opportunity to relate first-hand stories of the state of the ocean and the world\u2019s coastal peoples.<\/p>\n

World Oceans Day 2016 carries the theme \u201cHealthy Oceans, Healthy Planet,\u201d for which the H\u014dk\u016ble\u2018a crew, as global ocean navigators, can offer direct experience. The day will be celebrated by the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ in New York in several important ways, all working toward improving understanding of the interconnectedness of our environment and our livelihoods.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Events to mark World Oceans Day 2016 on 8 June:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe Lei Holo Puni Honua,\u201d a ceremonial presentation of declarations and sail of friendship
\n<\/strong>11-11:45 a.m. ceremony, followed by VIP and media tour of the canoe (weather permitting), Gantry Plaza, Long Island City, Queens<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nainoa Thompson, the Polynesian Voyaging Society\u2019s Master Navigator, will present Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Gyan Chandra Acharya, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, and Palau President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. with ocean protection declarations that the H\u014dk\u016ble\u02bba voyagers have collected from the public on their worldwide journey promoting sustainable oceans. This will be followed by a tour of the H\u014dk\u016ble\u2018a, weather permitting.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cVoyaging to a Sustainable Planet: A Talk Story Uniting Leadership on Oceans\u201d
\n<\/strong>3:30-6 p.m., Conference Room 1, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Headquarters
\n<\/strong>(by invite only)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Palau President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. and representatives of the Federated States of Micronesia, together with Nainoa Thompson of the H\u014dk\u016ble\u2018a, will discuss the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ\u2019s Ocean Agenda and link the voyage of the H\u014dk\u016ble\u02bba with Sustainable Development Goal 14. They also will present developments regarding the negotiation of a new legally binding instrument to protect biodiversity in marine areas in the high seas.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

World Oceans Day reception
\n<\/strong>6-8 p.m., Sputnik Lobby, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly Building<\/strong><\/p>\n

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon\u2019s 2016 World Oceans Day message will be delivered and the winners of this year\u2019s World Oceans Day Oceanic Photo Competition will be announced by multiple past winner Ellen Cuylaerts. The evening will also feature performances by musicians Jack Johnson, Paula Fuga, Chucky-Boy Chock and Brother Noland, as well as Hawaiian Serenaders.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Empire State Building to be lit for Oceans Day <\/strong><\/p>\n

The Empire State Building will be lit on the evening of 8 June for World Oceans Day in white, blue and purple, representing the different layers of the ocean. White at the top represents the most shallow, sunlit waters and also the polar ice cap. The blue represents the slightly deeper ocean waters, and the purple is for even deeper waters. The unlit portions, or black, represent those parts of the ocean where the sun does not reach.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2016 Annual World Oceans Day Oceanic Photo Competition
\n<\/strong>DOALOS is hosting a free amateur photo competition in 2016, as in years past, seeking to convey the beauty and importance of the ocean and humankind\u2019s relation to it through five thematic categories: underwater seascapes, underwater life, above-water seascapes, positive human interaction and a youth category. Winners will be recognized at the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ reception on 8 June.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

More information<\/strong><\/p>\n

World Oceans Day 2016: https:\/\/www.un.org\/Depts\/los\/wod<\/a><\/p>\n

Photo contest: https:\/\/www.un.org\/Depts\/los\/wod\/photo-contest.html<\/a><\/p>\n

H\u014dk\u016ble\u02bba voyaging canoe: http:\/\/www.hokulea.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Media contacts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Department of Public Information<\/p>\n

Dan Shepard, T: +1 (212) 963-9495 | E: shepard@un.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Ariel Alexovich, T: +1 (917) 367-6512 | E: alexovich@un.org<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For more information on the Sustainable Development Goals, please visit: www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment<\/a> or follow us on Twitter at @GlobalGoalsÄ¢¹½ÊÓƵ<\/a> and on Facebook at https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/globalgoalsÄ¢¹½ÊÓƵ<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Growing concern over the health of marine ecosystems is at the center of United Nations observances to mark World Oceans Day 2016 on 8 June.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":230,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[21,4,5270],"tags":[5952,5955,5958,351,5949],"class_list":["post-17739","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-life-below-water","category-news","category-press-material","tag-goal-14","tag-marine-life","tag-media-advisories","tag-oceans","tag-world-oceans-day"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17739","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/230"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17739"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17739\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17739"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17739"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17739"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}