Have you ever wondered what type of trash is most commonly found on European beaches? Or how much of the plastic produced in the EU is recycled?
These are the types of questions we have answers to, thanks to extensive and ongoing reporting on various environmental factors from countries around the globe. (And we’ll reveal the answers later in the article.)
Demands for reporting on environmental issues were significant when the UN climate treaty was adopted in 1992. They were further increased with the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and are now even greater in the Paris Agreement.
"There wouldn't be as much reporting on environmental issues, and in such detail, without digital solutions. Digitalisation is increasing overall in global governance," says Tove Sofia Engvall.
She recently earned her PhD degree from the University of Agder with a thesis on the role of information systems in global governance.
Global governance can be understood as the intricate interplay between governments, international organisations, municipalities, cities, and private actors, and how they collaborate to address global challenges.
Transparency and learning
The Paris Agreement includes a goal to limit global warming. As part of this effort, all countries that have signed the agreement are required to report on their actions and goals. All this reporting is done digitally.
"The reporting makes the emissions and climate efforts of different countries more visible, and it can be used to hold them accountable. It lays the foundation for open governance at a global level," she says.
The sharing of information also facilitates learning between countries.
"There is a lot of talk about data-driven innovation to drive society forward, and this reporting can contribute to that. It creates new conditions for collaboration and participation, and it is democratic because everyone has the same information," says Engvall.
Public and private collaboration
In her doctoral work, Engvall has examined the UN Climate Change secretariat, the EU reporting platform, and Sweden's use of digital tools in climate reporting. She uses a theory of information infrastructure to discuss how digital services for global governance can be developed.
"A shared trustworthy source of information lays the foundation for coordinating efforts from both the private and public sectors. All problems we encounter present opportunities for innovation," she says.
Easier communication
One of the challenges we face is the sheer volume of information produced. Advanced tools are required to effectively process this information, and you need to know what you’re looking for when navigating the systems. However, the wealth of data generated also presents a unique opportunity to engage with citizens on climate issues.
The EU European Environment Agency is one of the entities responsible for handling this information and making it publicly accessible. There we learn that cigarette butts constitute over 20 per cent of the litter on European beaches and that 8 per cent of plastics produced is recycled.
"There hasn’t been much research on digital global governance. There are numerous risks associated with cybersecurity, misinformation, and tensions that already exist around the globe. There are still many questions that need to be addressed in order to responsibly and effectively harness digitalisation," Engvall concludes.
Source:
The role of information systems in global governance: The case of climate reporting