JCU welcomes push for International Day of the Tropics

1 October 2015

The significance of the Tropics to the future of the globe will be highlighted with the Australian Government announcing it will lead an effort to create an International Day of the Tropics.
Speaking in New York, Australia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Gillian Bird has announced that the Australian Government would lead an effort to establish a UN-endorsed International Day of the Tropics on the 29th of June.

JCU tropical environmental sciences
Ambassador Bird and Professor Harding (Photo credit: JCU)

The 29th of June is the anniversary of the launch of the inaugural State of the Tropics report. The project is convened by James Cook University and draws on the expertise of leading institutions from around the world.
On 29th of June, 2014, Nobel Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, launched the project’s first major report in Yangon.
The ground-breaking State of the Tropics report confirms the great demographic, environmental and geopolitical significance of the region, describes the grand challenges facing the world’s tropical regions, and provides a baseline for a more sustainable global future.
James Cook University Vice Chancellor Professor Sandra Harding was with Ambassador Bird in New York for the announcement.
“JCU warmly welcomes this announcement and strongly supports the Australian Government’s push to recognise the global significance of the Tropics.”
“The Tropics is home to 40% of the world’s population, it hosts about 80% of its terrestrial biodiversity. And by 2050, more than two-thirds of the world’s children under 15 years of age will be living in the Tropics.”
“By any measure, the significance of this crucial region deserves to be recognised with the creation of an International Day of the Tropics, which would provide a focal point for monitoring sustainable development in the region,” Professor Harding said.
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Want to learn more about sustainable development and other environmental sciences programs at JCU? Contact OzTREKK’s Australian Environmental Sciences Admissions Officer Rachel Brady at rachel@oztrekk.com or call toll free at 1-866-698-7355.

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