Scrutinizing environmental governance in a digital age: New ways of seeing, participating, and intervening

Kloppenburg, S., Gupta, A., Kruk, S. R.L., Makris, S. , Bergsvik, R., Korenhof, P., Solman, H. and Toonen, H. M. (2022) Scrutinizing environmental governance in a digital age: New ways of seeing, participating, and intervening. One Earth, 5(3), pp. 232-241. (doi: 10.1016/j.oneear.2022.02.004)

Abstract

Digital technologies play an increasingly important role in addressing environmental challenges, such as climate change and resource depletion. Yet, the characteristics and implications of digitalized environmental governance are still under-conceptualized. In this perspective, we distinguish three dimensions of governance: (1) seeing and knowing, (2) participation and engagement, and (3) interventions and actions. For each dimension, we provide a critical perspective on the shifts that digital technologies generate in governance. We argue against the assumption that the use of digital technologies automatically results in improved outcomes or in more democratic decision-making. Instead, attention needs to be paid to the wider political and normative context in which digital technologies are proposed, designed, and used as environmental governance tools. We conclude with key questions for academics and policymakers to broaden the debate on responsible design and use of digital technologies in environmental governance.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Makris, Dr Stavros
• Authors: Kloppenburg, S., Gupta, A., Kruk, S. R.L., Makris, S., Bergsvik, R., Korenhof, P., Solman, H., and Toonen, H. M.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Law
• Journal Name: One Earth
• Publisher: Elsevier (Cell Press)
• ISSN: 2590-3330
• ISSN (Online): 2590-3322
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in One Earth 5(3): 232-241
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License