By HE Dr. Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr,

Director General of Smart Dubai, UAE

Next-generation technologies have long found their way into the realm

of the government sector. In a bid to provide modern services and

systems to the public that are comparable to what the more-funded

private sector institutions can deliver, many governments worldwide

have embarked on what we now call smart government.

Under this all-encompassing phenomenon, we have witnessed public

entities integrating advanced technological innovations into their

processes to deliver faster and more efficient solutions. The end goal

is to make members of the local communities happier and more satisfied

through the provision of high-quality government services.  In short,

a high standard of quality living should be achieved by establishing a

modern and effective government system.

With the internet and other modern tools at its core, smart government

has empowered the public by giving them easy, round-the-clock access

to services and an effective platform to reach out to public

authorities. It has also enabled government bodies to operate at their

optimum best to cater to the needs of both people and businesses at

reduced costs.

More importantly, a government operating under a smart ecosystem has

led to the promotion of better consumption of resources, therefore

helping address the issues of sustainability of resources and

environmental degradation. This environmental component is critical in

another global movement that has emerged in light of the devastating

effects of climate change.

Worldwide, we have seen mounting calls for sustainable development,

and a key aspect of achieving this much-needed progress is for

countries to adopt the framework of the green economy. The United

Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) defines an inclusive green

economy as an economic model that “improves human well-being and

builds social equity while reducing environmental risks and

scarcities[1].”

Dialogues and debates surrounding the green economy continue as they

should be. But all these should be accompanied by concrete actions. By

pushing to have a smart government, we are also in effect taking that

vital step towards shifting to a green economy.  Now, the focus will

be on embracing green technologies and leveraging innovation as a tool

to enable sustainable development. This way, smart government and

green economy complement each other. They are key to building a

sustainable future for all. To discuss more, I look forward to meeting

you at the WGES 2019, which will take place at on October 20th and

21st at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.