CREDIT
- Angela Lily Jones Liu LivYulisa minnehan Ma writer Editor artist - Quin Moylan - Pippa Daykin - Sivan Reznichenko-Elhibir
the ocean regulates the climate of the Earth by
ng heat from the equator? Or did you know that June is ne, National al Ocean Month? First declared in 2008, National Ocean celebrates the unique body of water that covers 70% of net, and which plays a huge role in the habitability of ean National Month Ocean Month is a crucial time to raise
ess about climate change and its effects on our lifeNaomi Gramling ocean!
ng to the United Nations, the first Oceans day was ed June 8th, 1992 at the Global Forum in Rio de Janeiro. Oceans Day was then declared by the General Assembly in nd the first World Oceans Day was celebrated on June 8th of the United States, National Ocean Month has been ed every June since 2008! The United States Geological says that “the entire month is dedicated to celebrating and ting our valuable oceans and their countless resources.” In e first United Nations Ocean Conference was held in order ort the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 4 in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: e and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources ainable development.” The conference is now an annual ven being held virtually in 2020.
And when we go back to
to celebration in water learn that about negatively of thethe ocean ocean’s affects and Wonder.” ecosystems, how to help protect particularly it. World coralOcean reefs; the sea... we are back So sea Day why ice hasslowly recognize the 12disappearing Months National of Action, Ocean andgoing melting Month? whichaway, has Well, awhich main the ocean raises focusissea for a significant levels; every month. and and changed Inimportant addition, oceanpart there circulation, ofare themany world! which actions It affects is responsible youthe canclimate. take forin from whence we came." climate NASA your everyday also regulation, states life that provides that sincehelp 1992, food thesea and ocean. levels medicine, For have example, raised is home overto the4 much of inches National due the Ocean to world’s additional Service biodiversity, heat has and said melting holds that great ice. conserving The significance UN has water, cited in — John F. Kennedy many cultures shopping of these witharound effects sustainability the are world, results in and of mind, climate mayusing have change, less even energy stating given rise that and to life on Earth. increasing volunteering global areInsea great thelevels United things rise States, toat do least theto4.5 ocean help milliliters contributes the ocean. per 285 year, The billion and Smithsonian thatdollars natural says toevents the youeconomy could that used also: through tolearn occur goods about oncethe and a century, ocean services, and such and your as 76% of United “deadly impact on storm it, States surges reduce trade and userelies coastal of on chemicals hazards the ocean.such that In addition, as canflooding, pollute the ocean also erosion waterways, andhelps such landslides,” with as fertilizer, reducing now pesticides, occur effects annually. ofand climate cleaning These change, effects products, as are it absorbs devastating, use reusable greenhouse not bags, only and gases forreduce theand ocean carbon carbon andemissions from marine thelife, by atmosphere. but using forless all The life on power. Ocean Earth. There Panel is They sosays much are that affecting youthe can ocean people’s do to“has help lives, absorbed reduce the the environment more effects thanof 90%ecosystems and climate of change excess on around heatthecaused ocean! them, by and Take human their action homes. activity and Because know globally that of and your this, around it actions is so important 25% have of a carbon bigtoimpact learn dioxide and on understand the emissions.” world around the However, ocean us. and Get according humans excited to NASA, impacts for Juneonand “ocean it. Luckily, to celebrate heat has you steadily can and take learn risen action about since to our help measurements unique protect and the began in ocean, important and 1955, ocean! participating breaking in records National in 2023.” Ocean Month is just one!
Yet, that isn’t the most inspiring part. It was her rrow,” Greta Thunberg, ; not only- did she fight battles withTIME’s Asperger'sPerson of the Year me, a form of autism, but she was also suffering epression at the early age of 12. Despite these ges, she found her purpose. When she turned parents organized the first "School Strike for e." This was a well-known strike, and people that Thunberg became much happier after the campaign. She began skipping school and ed outside the Swedish Parliament to call for r climate action, finding happiness and pride in g up for what she believed in. "Being different ," she told the BBC. "If I had been like ne else, I wouldn’t have started this school
eta Thunberg (Youth Activism)
n 2019 and 2020, after her protests, she then ull year away from school to focus on activism, is was what she truly loved. Due to her blunt hful manner and how she was still in her youth cared so much about the climate crisis, her egan to skyrocket. What truly made her so well was her iconic speech quoting “How dare you,” colding the world’s leaders for their ence and inaction on climate change. During onths, she traveled extensively, having ble opportunities like meeting with the Pope and ing heads of state at the U.N. On September 20, hanks to her leadership, the largest climate tration in history took place, with millions ating in the global climate strike. ecently, Greta has used online platforms to ut about global issues, including promoting ess around Gaza and supporting Palestinians, all ontinuing her climate work. Today, her es and words are viewed and learned in millions rooms worldwide, serving as an inspiration to w youth.
Kyoto role in Protocol global climate and the diplomacy. Clean Development Born in San José in 1956,Her Mechanism. she leadership is from a politically was instrumental prominent in promoting family: hersustainable father, Josédevelopment Figueres Ferrer, policies served across as Latin America. Costa Rica’s president three times, and her In 2010,José brother, following Maríathe Figueres, unsuccessful also held Copenhagen the climate summit, presidency. Figueres Figueres pursued washigher appointed education Executive in Secretary the UnitedofStates the United and theNations UnitedFramework Kingdom, Convention earning a bachelor's on Climate degree Change from(UNFCCC). SwarthmoreOver her six-year and College tenure, a master's she revitalized in socialthe anthropology global climate negotiation from the London process, School culminating of Economics. in the landmark Paris Agreement Her career in ofinternational 2015. This accord diplomacy unitedbegan 195 countries in in a1980s, the commitment including to limit a roleglobal as Minister warming Counselor to well below 2°C, at themarking Costa Rican a significant Embassyachievement in Bonn, Germany. in international climate In 1995,policy. she founded the Center for Sustainable After steppingindown Development the Americas, from the UNFCCC focusing on in 2016, Figueres continued integrating Latin American her environmental countries into advocacy. global She co-founded climate initiatives. Global Optimism, co-authored "The Future We Choose," and co-hosts the podcast "Outrage and Optimism." Her efforts have been recognized globally; she received the 2022 Great Negotiator Award from Harvard Law School and was named among TIME magazine's 100 most influential people. Figueres's career exemplifies the impact of collaborative diplomacy in addressing climate change. Her work continues to inspire global efforts toward a sustainable and resilient future.
Figures: Christiana Figueres (Diplomacy)
who ng in trees, reality, takefocusing care it had of instead us’” been (Kimmerer, cultivated on maximizing for 2013). immediate Kimmerer profit. has also – Winona LaDuke
dnes.produce theIndigenous necessity looksof people pretty, a symbiotic green, alreadyand relationship lived healthy, in but between it grows humans and actices Influence Modern Sustainability Efforts These ally w World,’ fast ideas with having have the help been developed ofleft chemical behind advanced fertilizers. in WesternWhile culture, they where we
tisfactory ural lacksystems respect short-term and for plants, understandings effects, thinking chemical of of the them fertilizers as objects gradually rather than needs. the As soil, Charlie Their impeding practices Floresitswrote ability left room into the carry forarticle water a and “Thenutrients, Disconnection uture; noffHumans to the kill best the and life seeds Nature,” in our were streams. Western kept for According the culture has to theseparated USDA, from nyear’s discouraging fertilizerharvest, runoff a relationship is and one of many thebetween leading usedcauses plants of and dead humans: zones “the waters. estry of thetowest Our integrate produce distanced their also itself crops tends from with to be nature, the arranged taking in groves, humanity andout of and opping nature is the outstandard. of humanity” Monocropping (Flores, 2019). is when one crop is n an area, and limits nutrient diversity, creating a stronger e on chemicals. s we see the harm that many Western methods cause, mental efforts are returning to the practices and philosophies igenous people have followed for centuries. Agroforestry ditional indigenous practices like Three Sisters planting have to gain traction in modern sustainability. The practice of the Sisters method, planting corn, beans, and squash together, n alternative to monoculture. Each crop contributes to the ve survival of the group; the corn grows tall and acts as a r the beans to climb, the beans add nitrogen to the soil, and ash brings shade to the soil. Agroforestry also recognizes the nce of symbiotic relationships in successful crops; instead ing forests, produce is grown alongside the trees. The trees’ es provide shade, their roots prevent soil erosion, and their e encourages biodiversity. As we realize the damage n farming practices cause, we’ve started to return to methods by Indigenous people centuries ago.
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in the 19th Century vs. Reforestation Efforts Today
ystem tion and thathuman prioritizes lives. cheap Fast fashion labor over is a sector basic ashion rights. industry The industry that targets is known Gen Z forwith its its unsafe low gand conditions, fashion-conscious as well as low designs. wages, Thebecause industry of re n the to spend 70’s when as little retail money companies on production discovered as mporting e. The reason clothes whyfrom these developing garments arecountries, so cheap ythey in East cost Asia, nothing wastocheaper make, than and paying companies for oiontreat in the theirWest. workers Fueled wellby if it themeans rise of ramping social and prices the and ever-growing driving away trendtheir cycle,clientele. brands such The shion n, Edikted, industry Zara, is and renowned Brandyfor Melville its terrible have gedconditions, in the lastincluding two decades, exposure but attowhat hazardous cost? en entenvironmental and chemicals, andlack ethical of repercussions, ventilation, and it esponsibility management. of the As government well as that,to there regulate arefast no ginrequirements, the United States. and companies do not hesitate oy children for their cheap labor. No article of ashion g is worth is athemassive exploitation contributor of human to rights, global gil because the fast fashion of its disposable industry is nature. regulated, According these eenpeace, will persist unpunished. an environmental organization, 0 tonnes of clothing end up in landfills each shion’s ith a significant true cost extends amount far of that beyond attributed the price to hion. accelerates And in global the United warming, States leaves alone, 85% behind of ics n our andplanet, textiles and end exploits up in landfills workers worldwide. every year. mer ing behavior to a recent hassurvey, proven43.5% to be of insufficient students on in ssthis Porter’s issue and campus addressing have purchased these problems. clothing To rom human Shein, rights a well-known and our planet, and highly action marketed taken by ernment hion brand is now based essential. in Singapore. Without Even regulation, more ningly, fashion 83.7% industry of students will continue reported profiting being aware from negative rifice of impacts human of lives fast and fashion, the environment. and yet they rchase must start it. now, Awareness before of it becomes the issue toodoes late. not e well into action, and without stronger on, the planet will continue to suffer at the e of cheap clothes.
uld the Government ulate Fast Fashion to duce Environmental rm?
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By Yuman Wu
Nature, 2019. https://humansandnature.org/the-disconnection-between-humans-andnature/ Ribaudo, Marc. “Dead Zone in the Gulf: Addressing Agriculture's Contribution.” Amber Waves, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Nov. 2003, https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2003/november/dead-zonein-the-gulf-addressing-agriculture-s-contribution.
“12 Months of Action in 2025 - World Ocean Day.” World Ocean Day, worldoceanday.org/12-months-of-action-in-2025/. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025. “About - United Nations World Oceans Day.” The United Nations, The United Nations, 26 Feb. 2025, unworldoceansday.org/ about/. “Climate Change Impacts on Coasts.” United States Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov/climateimpacts/climate-change-impacts-coasts. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025. Gronstal, Aaron. “National Ocean Month: Astrobiology and Earth’s Oceans.” Astrobiology at NASA, NASA, 8 June 2022, astrobiology.nasa.gov/news/world-ocean-month-astrobiology-and-earths-oceans/. “How Is Climate Change Impacting the World’s Ocean.” United Nations, United Nations, www.un.org/en/climatechange/ science/climate-issues/oceanimpacts#:~:text=As%20the%20excessive%20heat%20and,marine%20heatwaves%2C%20and%20ocean%20acidification. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025. “How We’re Conserving Our Ocean.” The Nature Conservancy, www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/protect-waterand-land/land-and-water-stories/protecting-our-ocean/. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025. Huff, Leah. “What Does a Changing Ocean Mean? Cultural Importance in the Face of Climate Change and Colonialism.” School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, 29 Nov. 2021, smea.uw.edu/currents/what-does-a-changing-ocean-mean-culturalimportance-in-the-face-of-climate-change-and-colonialism/. “National Ocean Month - Earth as Art.” USGS, 3 July 2024, www.usgs.gov/media/images/national-ocean-month-earth-art. “National Ocean Month: World Oceans Day: Marine Conservation.” Guice Offshore, 13 June 2024, www.guiceoffshore.com/ its-national-ocean-month-check-out-whats-happening/. “The Ocean and Climate Change - Nasa Science.” NASA, NASA, 18 Apr. 2025, science.nasa.gov/earth/explore/the-ocean-andclimate-change/. Team, Smithsonian Ocean. “How You Can Help the Ocean.” Smithsonian Ocean, 11 May 2023, ocean.si.edu/conservation/ climate-change/how-you-can-help-ocean. BBC News. (2019, October 3). 5 years of strikes for climate: Where is Greta Thunberg now? https://www.bbc.com/news/worldeurope-49918719 Alter, C. (2019, December 11). Greta Thunberg: TIME's 2019 Person of the Year. TIME. https://time.com/person-of-the-year-2019-gretathunberg/ Greenpeace Aotearoa. (n.d.). The dark side of fast fashion. Greenpeace. https://www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/story/the-dark-side-of-fastfashion/ Britannica. (n.d.). Fast fashion. In Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/art/fast-fashion