HPC and National Security: The Role of Sustainable Development Goals
When HPC and national security appear in the same sentence, thoughts typically turn towards military, defense, and homeland security. While that’s a natural association, national security means more than just physical and border safety. Security also encompasses public health and safety, and secure systems for commerce and finance, which are critical to the well-being – the strength – of a nation.
High performance computing plays just as important a role in supporting a nation’s security and competitiveness in these areas as it does in military defense.
The Crucial Role of HPC Investments
This article is a summary of a white paper developed on behalf of Dell Technologies by HPC industry analyst firm Hyperion Research on the crucial role that HPC investments by the U.S. government play across a spectrum of national needs. At the heart of the paper’s thesis: While many U.S. governmental entities rely on HPC for their critical mission requirements, more could be done. Looked at in some ways, the U.S. is falling behind other countries and regions in their utilization of HPC.
Examples include: the severity and paths of recent severe North American weather events were more accurately predicted, and with more lead time, by European weather models. Several APAC nations are considered to be in leadership positions on environmental sustainability in smart cities and urban design. The U.S. is at risk of ceding competitive advantage and sub-optimizing national welfare interests unless the country increases investment in addressing these challenges.
HPC and Sustainable Development Goals
HPC leadership not only provides security for a nation but also for global security, health, and sustainability. Of the 17 goals defined in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development related to public health and safety, below are the 12 that can benefit from science and research enabled by advanced technical computing:
- Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
- Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
- Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
- Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
- Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
- Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
- Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
- Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
- Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
- Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
- Goal 15: Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
- Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.
The U.S. has several avenues available to support the needs of scientists, researchers, and engineers tackling these critical issues. The federal government should consider vendor partners that offer a broad range of HPC solutions and services for both on-premises and cloud resources.
Download the whitepaper to read more about “To Out-compute is to Out-compete: In the Interests of National Security – Defense Technologies and Use Cases.”
Visit Dell.com/HPC for information on HPC solutions for government. Join the HPC Community at DellHPC.org.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 14: Life Below Water
- SDG 15: Life on Land
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round.
- Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
- Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
- Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
- Target 8.1: Sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances and, in particular, at least 7 percent gross domestic product growth per annum in the least developed countries.
- Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.
- Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
- Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
- Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
- Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience and take action for their restoration to achieve healthy and productive oceans.
- Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
- Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator 2.1.1: Prevalence of undernourishment
- Indicator 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory disease
- Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of the population using safely managed drinking water services
- Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption
- Indicator 8.1.1: Annual growth rate of real GDP per capita
- Indicator 9.1.1: Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road
- Indicator 11.3.1: Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate
- Indicator 12.2.1: Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP
- Indicator 13.3.2: Number of countries that have communicated the strengthening of institutional, systemic, and individual capacity-building to implement adaptation, mitigation, and technology transfer
- Indicator 14.2.1: Proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches
- Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area
- Indicator 16.6.2: Proportion of the population satisfied with their last experience of public services
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round. | Indicator 2.1.1: Prevalence of undernourishment |
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. | Indicator 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory disease |
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. | Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of the population using safely managed drinking water services |
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. | Indicator 7.2.1
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together. Source: insidehpc.com
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