has been in business for over 100 years. IBM has been a part of the business world for over 100 years.
IBM is committed to being a responsible and sustainable company. IBM is responsible and sustainable.
It's easy to take for granted modern privileges that let some populations easily weather a storm. Those luxuries could be the confidence of knowing that lights turn on when you flick on a light switch, or the ability to make a living while working remotely in the comfort of your home. However, for many people, these luxuries are not a given.
According to the World Bank, climate-related disasters and natural hazards push 26 million people into poverty each year. The obstacles these communities face will get worse without funding or access to technical, financial, and institutional resources to enable them to be more resilient in responding to climate change. One possible way to address this problem is to fund environmental nonprofits, but these organizations often lack sufficient support. In fact, US environmental nonprofits received only 2% of all charitable dollars in 2020. This is a problem that needs to be addressed because without proper funding, these communities will continue to struggle.
I understand the major impact of weather and the environment on my homeland from my experience living on the Caribbean island of Dominica for the first eight years of my life. I know the devastation that a hurricane could bring to a community — wreaking havoc on electrical power grids and livelihoods of farmers that depend on the land. My childhood memories consisted of picking and eating fruits on my family's farm, as well as images of people reinforcing galvanized roofs amid tropical storm floods. In my career journey from keeping water supplies safe from radioactive materials at the US Department of Energy to my current role in CSR at IBM, I've always loved to solve problems to protect people and the environment.
It wasn't only my background that took me toward this purpose; this is a real problem on which the United Nations is calling for action. Through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UN defined 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for peace and prosperity for people and the planet. Among those goals, the UN calls for action on climate change, strengthening the means of implementation, and revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development. This is a real problem on which the United Nations is calling for action. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development defines 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, among which is climate change. Strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development are also important.
IBM believes that the power of science, technology, and innovation can help tackle environmental issues while serving vulnerable communities exposed to environmental hazards. By pairing experts and technology with the purpose of improving the lives of populations most affected by environmental threats, IBM has the potential to make lasting, scalable impact. Funding environmental nonprofits may be one step, but to accomplish long-term change, equipping these organizations with the tools and expertise necessary to drive societal outcomes is crucial. Technology, science, and strategic partnerships can play a key role in enabling organizations to leverage the necessary resources to make a positive and lasting impact in their communities.
IBM CSR is connected to this business purpose. That's why we made the decision to invest in sustainable innovation programs that will help communities across the world. Pro-bono social impact programs, like our new IBM Sustainability Accelerator, utilize IBM technology and expertise to scale the initiatives of nonprofit organizations. Through this program, IBM will deliver over the course of two years custom tools, scientific expertise, and mentorship to each organization. IBM will also provide access to IBM's technology and expertise to help these organizations achieve their sustainability goals.
Together, we can truly make a lasting change. IBM Sustainability Accelerator is accessible to nonprofits around the world. We are already working with organizations on sustainable agriculture, and we are open for submissions for 2022. I encourage all of you to apply or suggest a nonprofit that would greatly benefit from this program. We can all work together towards our next mission: Creating a clean energy future.
Let's put the power of science, technology, and innovation in the hands of communities to tackle environmental threats together.
IBM is helping nonprofits and communities around the world in a variety of ways. For example, IBM is providing technology and consulting services to help these organizations become more efficient and effective. IBM is also partnering with nonprofit organizations to help them raise money and awareness for their causes.
This post was created by Insider Studios with IBM.
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