Pacific-Rim Challenges

APRU brings together thought leaders, researchers, and policy-makers to exchange ideas and collaborate on effective solutions to the challenges of the 21st century.

APRU’s numerous projects relating to the grand Paciﬁc Challenges, emphasizes the interdependence of these challenges. Solutions to the threats to humanity require implementation at scale and differentiated for context and universities have a crucial role. Universities are critical to shaping the leadership that is needed to generate the will to implement solutions. See APRU programs below which are the foundation of our work to address Asia Pacific Challenges.

	Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence and frontier technologies will transform societies, economies, and industries. How we respond today has a considerable impact on the future of humanity.
	Biodiversity & Sustainability Asia and the Pacific region is exceptionally rich in biodiversity featuring some of the world most unique regions including tropical forests, alpine environments and the reefs of the ‘coral triangle’. However the region is also recording the highest number of threatened species, is impacted by shrinking natural habitats and overexploitation of marine resources.
	Global Health Health is integral to building stable and sustainable societies. In an era of globalization, health determinants, risks, and outcomes cannot be geographically confined.
	Food Security and Agritech Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.
	Multi-Hazards 40% of the world’s natural disaster events and 90% of the world’s earthquakes occur in the Asia-Pacific. In a region of inevitable disasters, improving the coordination and sharing of knowledge across borders is essential to deliver effective disaster reduction and recovery measures.
	Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Today, more people live in cities than their rural counterparts. As an urban species it is imperative we bridge the divide between man and nature, better understanding the interaction of urban areas and their surrounding ecology for a sustainable future.
	Sustainable Waste Management Deposition of waste results in severe land, water and air pollution causing tremendous negative impacts not only for human beings but also for floral and faunal diversity in ecosystems.