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UK government to use AI to improve global preparation for climate shocks
New partnership to share data and models and provide technical training to strengthen capacity The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Met Office are to collaborate on artificial intelligence-enabled weather forecasting to help countries better prepare for extreme weather and climate risks. Announced on 22 June during London Climate Action Week, the strategic…
Breaking free from fossil fuels is urgent but hard – Colombia shows why
Colombia’s outgoing president Gustavo Petro, a former guerrilla and the country’s first leftist leader, came to power in 2022. He promised something few leaders of fossil fuel-producing countries have seriously attempted: to reduce his country’s dependence on oil, gas and coal. Together with his vice-president Francia Márquez, a former environmental activist, Petro put together an…
Countries approve US$3.9bn funding package for environmental projects worldwide
More than 180 countries have agreed the priorities for a US$3.9bn funding package that will be spent on conserving biodiversity and other climate projects around the world. The package was approved by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) at its latest assembly in Uzbekistan earlier this month. GEF is a multilateral fund that channels funding from…
How methane policy will make or break the climate crisis
There’s no sign that methane emissions are declining globally. That’s according to the International Energy Agency’s latest report on methane, which revealed a worrying implementation gap in current policies. The UN has warned repeatedly that getting methane emissions under control is critical to address the climate crisis. Methane emissions have a powerful greenhouse effect, with…
Turning debt into forests: the finance tool making a comeback
Alex Dryden, SOAS, University of London In 2023, Ecuador struck an unusual deal. Instead of simply paying back its debts, it refinanced part of them on better terms and promised to spend the savings protecting the Galápagos Islands. This type of transaction, known as a debt-for-nature swap, is often described as a “win-win”: lower debt…
Male behaviours disproportionate drivers of climate change, new research suggests
Men have a greater carbon footprint than women, drive the industries that contribute to global warming and ecological loss, and tend to be less concerned about climate change, according to a collection of research from around the world. Published in a peer-reviewed special issue of Norma: International Journal for Masculinity Studies, the paper Men, masculinities…
‘Much‑needed fresh air’: five outcomes from the world’s first summit on ending fossil fuels
Almost 60 countries, representing about a third of the global economy, met in the Colombian port city of Santa Marta last month for the first international summit on the transition away from fossil fuels. It was hailed as a bold step to shift global dependence on hydrocarbons into an era of clean energy. The group…
‘Significant gaps’ in climate resilience of Canada’s critical assets, audit finds
The Government of Canada is failing to adequately protect its critical infrastructure from risks associated with climate change, according to a report produced on behalf of the auditor general. The Climate Resilience of Federal Assets and Services report by Jerry V. DeMarco, commissioner of the environment and sustainable development, was tabled on 4 May, and…
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Discover independent research reports, surveys and in-depth studies from Global Government Forum and knowledge partners, exploring the most important issues facing governments and the public sector. Our research provides practical insights and evidence-based recommendations for senior civil servants, policymakers and public sector leaders. Our reports combine exclusive survey data, expert analysis and interviews with government leaders from around the world to help public sector organisations improve performance, inform policy and deliver better outcomes for citizens.
Empowering Public Servants to Make Confident, Informed Decisions with Data and AI
Governments around the world are working hard to extract – and act upon – the insights held in their vast data stores, and to embrace AI and the promise it holds for innovation and transformation. At the same time, economic pressures and constrained budgets are compelling public servants to do more with fewer resources, while governments are called to respond quickly and effectively to complex challenges.
Against this backdrop, data and AI can help those working in government both to streamline their workflows and make fast, informed decisions. This in turn drives efficiency and can unlock productivity gains – and ultimately lead to improved performance and better services for citizens.
Global Government Forum surveyed over 600 civil servants worldwide to understand how data and AI are being used in government decision-making and where there are further challenges and opportunities.
Read this report for insight into how governments are using data and AI in decision-making today and the potential for the future; the major challenges to using data and AI in decision-making and how to overcome them; and how AI agents can be used in decision-making.
The report includes examples of data and AI in decision-making from countries including the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Singapore, the US, and more.
(Published September 2025)
Making Government Work: Five Pillars of a Modern, Effective Civil Service
Around the world, governments are dealing with substantial challenges – from economic stagnation to the transition to net zero, military conflicts and cyber threats. Governments are also grappling with shifting geopolitics and the rise of populism – and all of these factors are set against the emergence of new technologies, including generative AI, which have the potential to fundamentally transform every aspect of society, but which also pose huge ethical, security and regulatory questions for the public sector.
The Making Government Work: Five pillars of a modern, effective civil service report was undertaken to help identify the key characteristics needed in a modern public service, with priorities ranging across leadership, digital service delivery, workforce development, cross-departmental integration, and citizen trust.
This report has been covered by publications around the world including the Financial Times, BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, Ottawa Citizen, Fed Manager, the Mandarin and the i newspaper.
(Published August 2024)
The Future of the Finance Ministry
From setting tax rates and financial regulations that create the ground rules for national economies, to allocating – and tracking – spending for public services, finance ministries occupy an essential role at the centre of government. Geopolitical crises have reinforced the importance of finance ministries, as they tackle both immediate shocks and long-term trends such as ageing populations, the digital transition, and the impact of moves to net zero.
Against this backdrop, this global research explores what the future finance ministry looks like and how to prepare for it.
Based on interviews with 10 senior leaders from finance ministries – led by John McCarthy, chief economist in Ireland’s Department of Finance, working with Ian Hall, editor, Global Government Finance, and Richard Johnstone, executive editor, Global Government Forum – the study identifies four key themes: the evolving role of the finance ministry in response to uncertainty; the shift to more flexible finance systems that support outcomes; digital transformation and the growth of AI; and the battle for talent and trust.
(Published May 2026)
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