Sustainability and LLMs Implementation in the Public Sector Concepts, Measurements and Piloting Tool

The History Department under the auspices of SAFIR is proud to announce the launch of a groundbreaking 2 and half year project, "Sustainability and LLMs Implementation in the Public Sector: Concepts, measurements and piloting tool," funded by the Internal Research Excellence Grant (IREG). This ambitious project addresses a critical gap at the intersection of technology and governance: the urgent need to understand and measure the full sustainability impact of deploying large language models (LLMs) in government services. While Large Language Models (LLMs) offer the public sector transformative gains in efficiency and citizen engagement, their rapid integration raises critical, unquantified risks. These extend beyond their significant environmental and economic costs to include profound social implications, particularly the potential erosion of foundational governance values. Without careful oversight, the use of LLMs can compromise equitable access to public information and challenge the very democratic tenets of transparency and accountability they are meant to enhance. By moving beyond a purely technical evaluation, the research will develop a comprehensive understanding of how LLMs impact public information/records management, transparency, and accountability, while rigorously measuring its carbon emissions, water usage, and economic viability.

Purpose of the Study

The study aims to provide a holistic framework for public sector organizations to implement LLMs responsibly.

Key Research Objectives

The project is structured around several core objectives designed to deliver actionable insights:

1. Investigate the impact of LLMs on the management of public records and the principles of transparency and accountability.

2. Identify and compare established methods for Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (E-LCA), Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA), and Life Cycle Costing (LCC).

3. Develop an innovative Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) conceptual model that integrates environmental, economic, and social dimensions.

4. Test the model through real-world case studies in the UAE, Sweden, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Switzerland.

5. Define the specifications for an AI eco-design tool to help public bodies pilot the three dimensions of sustainability.

Expected Outcomes

The project is set to produce significant outputs that will benefit both the academic community and public sector practitioners, including:

A comparative analysis report on sustainability assessment methods.
A novel Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) Conceptual Model.
In-depth case study findings from multiple countries.
Functional and technical specifications for a sustainable AI eco-design tool.
Practical guidelines and training modules for stakeholders.

A Strategic Collaboration

This project underscores a powerful academic collaboration. It is jointly conducted by The History Department of Sorbonne Abu Dhabi under SAFIR and the Haute école de gestion de Genève (HEG Geneva). This partnership brings together interdisciplinary expertise in archival science, public administration, AI, and sustainability, combining the research strengths of both institutions to tackle one of the most pressing challenges of digital governance.

By leading this vital research, SAFIR and its partners are committed to shaping a future where technological advancement and sustainable development go hand in hand.

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