China, digital authoritarianism is becoming a reality, as increasing technological prowess is harnessed for control and surveillance.
However, more positively, more decentralised and participatory dynamics that reduce polarisation and enable engagement and consensus for action are emerging in many places as well. This is particularly happening at city level, and in small states such as Taiwan, enabled in large part by emerging decentralised technologies.
Some evidence of Digital governance in place:
China’s model of digital governance is being boosted as governments across the world seek technical guidance and material support to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leading research calls for new governance mechanisms to be designed in such a way as to address climate injustices and embed more just outcomes. It further points to the critical interconnection between achieving long-term climate justice goals and addressing structural root causes – including historical injustices, land rights, political participation, and governance.
In Myanmar, the UNDP’s Governance for Resilience and Sustainability Project is designed to assist with the implementation of recent policy reforms related to environmental governance, climate change and disaster risk reduction, to ensure that economic growth in this country is more inclusive, resilient and sustainable.
Globally, deforestation is three to five times lower inside indigenous territories than outside, pointing to inclusive forest governance as an important enabling condition for effective action on sustainability.
In Taiwan, 10 million people – roughly half the population – now participate directly in digital governance via an online platform that allows users to contribute to the development of laws, propose legislation, fact-check politicians and experience robust transparency.
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