The seas and oceans are climate machines, living and economic areas at the same time. They supply raw materials and food, serve as transport routes and recreational areas. But this space is also under threat: from littering and overfishing to global warming. To protect the oceans, the United Nations (UN) celebrates World Oceans Day on 8 June each year.
![[Translate to English:] Eine neue Initiative der Vereinten Nationen will für einen besseren Schutz der Meere und Ozeane sorgen.](/fileadmin/_processed_/8/b/csm_20101201_ANTXXVII2_010_FRoedel_f805b25b99.jpg "[Translate to English:] Eine neue Initiative der Vereinten Nationen will für einen besseren Schutz der Meere und Ozeane sorgen.")
This year, the United Nations Global Compact Initiative uses this day to launch the Action Platform for Sustainable Ocean Business in New York. "Global Compact" is an initiative for responsible corporate governance and pursues the vision of a sustainable global economy. The Platform for Action, which is now being launched, aims to promote concrete measures and investments by the business community and to form partnerships to protect the oceans and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in the field of maritime economy.
The Director of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Antje Boetius, will also be present in New York. The deep-sea researcher is participating as a scientific advisor. In addition, representatives from the economy, politics and civil society organisations will participate.
