There’s a reason we dropped the “s.”

Because there is only one ocean — one living, connected system that powers our climate, sustains life, and unites us all.

And today, it’s young people around the world who are leading the charge to protect our world ocean.

For years, the official name used by the United Nations has been World Oceans (plural) Day. But we chose to return to World Ocean (singular) Day, the name we originally helped champion starting in 2002, because it reflects the simple, powerful truth that we share one ocean, and one future.

From the beginning, this movement has been about bringing the world together. In the early 2000s, there was no global coordination around the Day, no shared campaign, no central hub, no collective voice. Together with partners worldwide, including a growing network of young leaders, we helped build that movement from the seafloor up.

Between 2003 and 2008, thousands of organizations and tens of thousands of individuals across dozens of countries came together to call on the U.N. to officially recognize the 8th of June as World Ocean Day. In 2008, the U.N. made it official — but they added an “s” in the process. We adopted the plural name in solidarity at that time. But as ocean literacy grew globally, the message from scientists, educators, and youth became clearer than ever: We all share one ocean, not many.