Environmental sustainability is rising up the local government agenda along with a growing awareness that digital technology has a significant role to play.
UKAuthority, supported by Microsoft, has recently completed a round of in-depth research on the issue – a paper from which is due to be published soon – and is now taking further steps to explore how councils can harness technology to reduce the carbon footprint in their own operations and the wider community.
Over the next month we will be staging a UKA Live discussion and a conference as part of a series of investigations into the issue.
The discussion on technology’s role in sustainability is set for 7 February, and will Mattie Yeta, government sustainability ICT lead at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Nadira Hussein, director of leadership and research at public sector IT association Socitm, Ellen Wilson of Microsoft and UKAuthority publisher Helen Olsen Bedford.
It will take in the findings of the How Green is your Digital? paper and results of the accompanying survey of UKAuthority readers, examining the relevant issues and taking questions live from viewers - but it you want to put a question to the panel in advance email helen@ukauthority.co.uk.
The discussion will provide expert insights and the chance to submit questions to the participants. You can register here to watch the discussion live.
Reactor event
On 24 February How Green is our Digital? will take place at the Microsoft Reactor in the City of London, providing an opportunity for learning about the possibilities and contributing to the debate on the factors around using digital for greener local government.
It will involve a group of speakers from the public and third sectors – including Mattie Yeta, Dan Clarke from the Smart Cambridge programme and Anna Bright of Sustainability West Midlands – and Microsoft, outlining the priorities, examples of projects that have already delivered results, and the technology that can make a positive contribution to the cause.
There will also be a series of discussions and workshops designed to identity the quick wins and next steps that councils can take in harnessing technology to combat the challenge of climate change. This will contribute to further research aimed at encouraging good practice and helping local authorities take positive steps to improve their record on environmental sustainability.
It amounts to a great chance to get to grips with an issue that is rapidly becoming a priority for local authorities - we hope that you can join us.
The event is for UK public sector only, with priority to delegates from local government. The venue is the Microsoft Reactor, 70 Wilson Street, London EC2A 2DB, and there will be limited space so take action to attend now.
You can find more details and register for the event here.
To watch the UKA Live discussion 7 February register here.
Image from iStock, Ipopba
