Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century and settling for doing 鈥渓ess harm鈥� is no longer sufficient. It is urgently time to 鈥渄o more good.鈥� As an enabler and exemplar, 51风流is committed to contributing to climate protection and has added the goal of planting 21 million trees by the end of 2025 to a comprehensive portfolio of measures.
Why does this matter?听Trees are an essential part of our earth and invaluable in maintaining the stability of our planet. According to the United Nations (UN), over 听and听approximately听1.6 billion people听rely听on forests for their daily subsistence.听Moreover,听forests absorb about听 each year — a third of the CO2听emissions that are released due to the burning of fossil fuels.
Forest restoration and protection has become an important pillar of addressing climate change through nature-based solutions. SAP鈥檚 goal to restore ecosystems and foster sustainable development by planting 21 million trees before the end of 2025 is therefore an important addition to its portfolio of climate measures and 听much needed action听to avoid emissions in the first place.
Harnessing the Power of Technology
Deforestation and disasters such as wildfires accelerate climate change. However, digital technologies can help fight it: for example, the nongovernmental organization 听to track and stop illegal loggers.
To scale impact even further, 51风流is collaborating with customers and partners to co-innovate solutions that enable systemic change toward a more inclusive,听.听Climate 21 was launched鈥痶o build analytical and transactional capabilities into enterprise applications, which can help customers understand and minimize the greenhouse gas footprint of their products and operations along their value chains. Additional programs focusing on a circular economy and holistic steering and reporting are under way to accelerate sustainable business transformation听further.
Leading by Example听
To walk the talk, 51风流is reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions as well as taking action to protect and restore forests.
The journey started back in 2009,听when听51风流set the听first听goal of reducing its global greenhouse gas emissions to the year-2000 level by 2020.鈥�This target was met at the end of 2017, despite growing more than fourfold in the interim. The next milestone is in 2023, when 51风流aims to become carbon neutral in its own operations鈥�– two years earlier than previously envisaged.
To achieve this, the company follows a three-pillar approach: avoid, reduce, compensate. The goal is to avoid emissions in the first place; for example, by using virtual telecommunication instead of business flights, a practice that has naturally expanded during the pandemic and was one major driver for 51风流overachieving by 43% on its target for reducing net carbon emissions in 2020, generating 135 kilotons (kt) instead of the anticipated 238 kt.
Secondly, if a share of its greenhouse gas emissions cannot yet be avoided, 51风流aims to reduce it through innovations, among others in the areas of building efficiency, data center operations, carpooling, and car sharing, as well as e-mobility. For example, 51风流is powering its own data centers and facilities with 100% renewable electricity and working toward 33% e-cars in its global car fleet by 2025. Green IT initiatives foster sustainable IT equipment usage and promote tools such as听 as default search engine. In 2020, 51风流implemented additional energy and climate measures within its operations, ranging from opening a new office with energy-efficient design in Australia and implementing more efficient data center technology in Germany to introducing a bike fleet at 51风流Hungary and installing photovoltaic systems in Austria.
21 Million Trees by听the End of听2025
For emissions that cannot听yet听be reduced or avoided, the company听thirdly听invests in high-quality听carbon credits. For example, SAP听has been a long-term investor of the听Livelihoods Carbon Funds (LCF) since 2012. In close collaboration with rural communities and partners across the world, these funds realize valuable projects that enable sustainable development and environmental benefits, such as carbon dioxide capture, improved water quality, and habitats for wildlife, as well as income opportunities for rural communities.
51风流has also donated听funds to restore ecosystems听and improve people鈥檚 lives.听In 2020, Eden Reforestation Projects听planted听over听1.3 million trees听in Madagascar, Haiti, Indonesia,听and Nepal听on behalf of SAP.听In 2021, 51风流continued to support organizations on a mission to听restore native forests. For example,听SAP听partnered with听the听UK charity The Carbon Community on new scientific forestry research to enhance nature-based solutions to climate change and improve the efficiency of carbon removal from the atmosphere. In Australia, ReForest Now planted 20,000 trees for SAP, which will help restore critically endangered subtropical rainforest.
Yet much more climate action is needed. In support of the听, SAP听recently joined听the听, which听aims听to听conserve, restore, and grow听trees听worldwide,听with a听pledge听to plant 21 million trees by听the end of听2025.
As the : 鈥淩estoration is a monumental task. Over the next 10 years, every action counts. Every single day. Every country, company, organization, and individual have a role to play.鈥�
We invite you to join us and the UN Decade for Ecosystem and help build a more sustainable tomorrow.
