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Introduction

Climate Change, a key buzzword when it comes to global stage; be it UNGA addresses or re-election pitches, a lot is being spoken in this context. So, where do we stand when it comes to sacrificing future for present predisposition; well the scientists had warned of the consequences of Non-adherence to the needful and we responded with deaf ears.

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction(UNDRR) had reviewed 20 years of economic losses due to natural disasters and they found an intense increase of 151% in direct economic damages.

They have reported that in the period 1998-2017, disaster-affected nations testified a direct economic losses of US $2,908 billion out of which climate-influenced calamities accounted for about 77% of the totale. US $2,245 billion. Climate based catastrophes claimed maximum damages with Floods, 43.4%, and storms, 28.2%, are the two most commonly occurring calamities.

Throughout the aforementioned period, 3 million people lost their lives and 4.4 billion people were wounded, lost their homes, or in need of emergency support.

The highest economic damages have been experienced by the USA, US $ 944.8 billion followed by China, US $492.2 billion; Japan, US $376.3 billion; India, US $ 79.5 billion; and Puerto Rico, US $71.7 billion.

UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Disaster Reduction, Mami Mizutori, had said, “We have to do a much better job of capturing economic loss data if we are to have a fuller understanding of what works when it comes to reducing economic losses, saving lives and livelihoods, and managing disaster risk.” The report from the UNDRR also suggests that there is a ‘Protection Gap’ among the rich & poor economies. The worst part being, the countries contributing least to the greenhouse gas emissions are subjected to more sufferings due to climate change.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says that there is a colossal gap, when it comes to what we ought to be doing and what we really are doing in averting hazardous levels of climate change. Although UNEP still believes that we can achieve the global warming target of less than 2°C, we (People, Govt. and all the other stakeholders) need some serious self-assessment. We need to ensure that we are not just making false promises but re-strengthening our commitment to act quickly to reduce emissions collectively.

UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report suggested for a proposal of integrating disaster risk reduction, enabled with technology into proactive investment decisions which is expected to be an efficient & cost-effective way to reduce these threats; sufficient financial & manpower investments in disaster risk reduction is therefore a prerequisite for developing sustainability.

How is SAP helping counter such existential crisis?

According to Global Goal 13’s sub-goal is to reinforce resilience and adaptive capacity for climate related hazards and natural calamities in all countries.

Taking the case of frequent floods in Buenos Aires, the government with the help of SAP took preemptive action and installed sensors throughout the city that collect and analyze weather data, providing real-time reports on areas needing immediate support.

Fire & Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW) in Australia is being assisted by SAP in helping them predict/detect fires and other natural disasters before they actual happen with accurate early-warning systems.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), an international organization under the patronages of the United Nations, also depends on the use of data-driven technologies enabled by SAP to help prevent/detect climate-related disasters.

Case Study - 1

SAP Startup Focus program has an initiative called Meteo Protect and uses the SAP HANA business data platform to monitor weather, analyze its historical patterns, and address its risks. For example, the company along with SAP helps wind energy utilities cover the risk of low average wind speed. They also protect food processing companies that buy commodities against the impact of weather on the growing of food.

Case Study – 2

We all know that Japan is threatened by natural disasters. To abate damages and avert losses of lives, Oita University and SAP teamed up and created a disaster prevention and education program based on SAP HANA and using machine learning capabilities in SAP Leonardo.

Case Study – 3

In the wake of the frequent natural disasters in the US, there arises the need to revamp emergency management programs with the requirement of alternate means of assistance. SAP.iO’s Venture Studio Team Apparent Financing has presented a financing program, which will help small businesses by find alternative financing solutions with ease and would also help them get stability more quickly.

Case Study – 4

Climate change can be the cause to dangerous species to exist in the natural eco-system with the threat to human lives. Taking example of the giant hogweed, which is an invasive species causing serious health and cost issues for communities in Europe and the U.S. SAP, Prodrone, and Itelligence AG are using cutting-edge technology including AI, Machine Learning to enable foresters to fight this new plague more efficiently.

Conclusion

SAP has not only made their worldwide operations green by digitization of business processes and the application of data to decisions about resource usage, but also have led clients proceed towards sustainability. They have addressed zero waste, carbon foot-print reduction with the theme of digital supply chain. SAP being part of the Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), created by the German Federal Ministry. They had introduced the alliance for development and sustainability for climate change. SAP is one of the 70 initial partners pledging self-sustainability & for others.

Meanwhile SAP continues to contribute significantly towards helping organizations/state & central Governments fight the indemnities (public property & human lives) with its core offerings.

Anyway, it would require extraordinary efforts from all the stakeholders when entire human existence is believed to be at stake!”