Asymmetries and Power
Digital public infrastructure and digital public goods in environmental policies
Objective: Explore the integration and use of digital public goods (DPG) for building digital public infrastructure (DPI) that operates in the public interest, and more specifically as tools for addressing climate change.
Duration: 2024
Status: Em Andamento
Supporter(s): Digital Public Goods Alliance
Description
During India’s presidency of the G20 in 2023, digital public infrastructure (DPI) became a key topic in the action plan presented to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Upon taking on the presidency in 2024, Brazil continued the DPI debate, especially based on national experiences with digital identity (gov.br) and immediate financial transactions (PIX).
The project aims to link the concept of DPI to that of Digital Public Goods (DPGs). Defined as “open source software, open data, open AI systems, and open content collections that adhere to privacy and other applicable laws and best practices,” DPGs are registered by the Digital Public Goods Alliance.
The research focus is on DPIs and DPGs that enables solutions to fight climate change, highlighting examples from Brazil, such as Cadastro Ambiental Rural (CAR), and worldwide, showing how data can inform better environmental policies.
Through theoretical and empirical research, the project seeks to demonstrate that the adoption of DPGs promotes transparency, social accountability, and efficiency in digital solutions.