8 June 2010: World Oceans Day was celebrated on 8 June around the theme “Our oceans: opportunities and challenges.” In a message to mark the Day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted that ocean ecosystems are facing multiple challenges, including exposure to land and marine based pollution, habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, unsustainable harvests and […]
8 June 2010: World Oceans Day was celebrated on 8 June around the theme “Our oceans: opportunities and challenges.”
In a message to mark the Day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted that ocean ecosystems are facing multiple challenges, including exposure to land and marine based pollution, habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, unsustainable harvests and the introduction of invasive species. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) noted that coastal ecosystem services, which are often overlooked, are valued at around US$25,000 billion per year through areas like food production, storm and flood regulatory services, climate change mitigation and carbon sequestration. [World Oceans Day Website] [UNEP Press Release] [Secretary-General Ban’s Speech]