Environment Sustainability in the Age of Digital Revolution: A Review of the Field

Authors

  • Ali M. Al-Khouri Director General, Emirates Identity Authority, United Arab Emirates Professor of Identity and Security, The British Institute of Technology & E-commerce (BITE), London, UK.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11634/232907811604391

Keywords:

environment, sustainability, e-government, low-carbon environment

Abstract

The world today has been witnessing phenomenal outgrowth in all fields during the past few decades. This augmentation has been largely stimulated by information and communication technologies (ICT). However, the inexorable evolution of technology and global economic development are being pursued at an ever-increasing societal cost with a snowballing potentially negative impact on the environment. Hence, one of the important challenges modern society faces is sustainability. This article attempts to explore the existing body of knowledge to provide a better understanding of the impact of ICT and digital revolutions on global carbon footprint and emissions. It also attempts to explore the presence of environmental sustainability initiatives in e-government programs worldwide. It presents some thoughts about how governments may address sustainability requirements in their e-government programs and enact responsible ICT-enabled transformation.

Author Biography

Ali M. Al-Khouri, Director General, Emirates Identity Authority, United Arab Emirates Professor of Identity and Security, The British Institute of Technology & E-commerce (BITE), London, UK.

H.E. Prof. Dr. Ali Mohamed Al-Khouri is the Director General (Under Secretary) of the Emirates Identity Authority (Emirates ID), a federal government organization in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He was appointed to this role in 2009. With his strategic and performance driven orientation, he played a vital role in converting the organization into one of the most successful government agencies in the UAE and a benchmark both regionally and worldwide in strategy and management practices, and technology implementations. Emirates ID was recognized in the UAE Government Excellence Program in 2011 as the Best Federal Authority in the UAE, and received three other Awards: Best Organizational Leadership, Best Customer Service, and Best Partnered Project (eVoting). He was recently selected and joined the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Social Security Systems, as one of the world's most relevant and knowledgeable thought leaders in this field, and to support the Council deliver pertinent insights and collaboratively develop solutions to address major global challenges. Prior to joining Emirates ID, he worked with the Ministry of Interior (1990-2003). He started his career as a project manager, and his last post was the head of development division. During his work with the Interior, he got involved in many strategic and mission-critical projects. Dr. Al Khouri is a fellow and member of many scientific and research associations, and is recognized both nationally and internationally as think-tank, and for his management expertise and technical knowledge in various field of practices in government and public sector. He has developed different intellectual methodologies and frameworks to handle the challenges faced by government organizations, among which is an innovative methodology for planning and strategic management of government sector projects, and another innovative methodology for e-government transformation to enable the concept of customer centricity and improve public sector service delivery. He has got more than 12 patented inventions and intellectual properties. Dr. Al-Khouri is also a Professor of Identity and Security and Follow of the British Institute for Technology and e-Commerce in London, UK, and is also on several advisory boards of academic institutions. He is an active researcher in the field of organizational development and transformation, e-government, knowledge-based digital economy, identity management, and in many other specialized fields. He has published over 80 scientific research articles in international peer-reviewed journals in the past 12 years. Dr. Al Khouri attained his higher education from the top UK universities, where he received his B.Sc. (Hons.) in 'Business Information Technology Management' from Manchester University, M.Sc. in 'Information Management' from Lancaster University, and an Engineering Doctorate (EngD) from Warwick University in the field of 'Strategic and Large Government Projects Management'.

Published

2013-10-26

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 4 (2013)

Section

Articles

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