Every June 29, the International Day of the Tropics shines a light on the equator-hugging zone where the sun sticks around and climate conversations get real. The tropics span a broad region between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, including parts of Asia, Africa, Oceania, Central America and South America. Nearly 40% of the global population lives in this band, which also hosts 80% of the world"s biodiversity. It"s rich in culture, nature and history—but also under pressure from rising temperatures, deforestation and fast-paced urban growth.