By HE Dr. Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, Director General of Smart Dubai, UAE

September 24, 2019 - 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 .” 

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.