International Day of the Tropics - 29 June

Today we celebrate the ‌International Day of the Tropics‌—a moment to honor the incredible diversity of life and culture between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, and to shine a light on the unique challenges and opportunities facing tropical nations.

🌍 The ecosystem

Between the Tropics, warm temperatures stay steady year-round and rainfall patterns—heaviest at the equator—give rise to some of the world’s richest ecosystems. But these landscapes face mounting pressures:

• Climate change driving more extreme weather
• Deforestation & logging eroding vital forests
• Urbanization & population shifts straining land, water, infrastructure

👥 The human system

Tropical countries have made real strides in development—but to reach their full potential, progress must accelerate across key fronts:

• By 2050, most of the world’s people—and two-thirds of its children—will call the Tropics home.
• Consistent with higher poverty rates, undernourishment is more prevalent here than anywhere else.
• A higher share of urban residents live in slum conditions compared to global averages.

🗣️ Why it matters
The Tropics are the planet’s engine of growth, culture and biodiversity. Their well-being isn’t just a regional issue, it’s critical to global food security, climate stability and human prosperity.

How can we support sustainable development in these vital regions? Share your thoughts with us here...

For technical assistance or guidance on Greening EU Cooperation, contact the Greening Facility by writing to INTPA-GREENING-FACILITY@ec.europa.eu  |  ENEST-GREENING-FACILITY@ec.europa.eu  | MENA-GREENING-FACILITY@ec.europa.eu

More information:

• State of the Tropics report: 2014  |  2017  |  2019  |  2020  |  2021  |  2022