ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND HABITS FOR PLANNING DEMATERIALIZATION OF MUNICIPALITIES

Abstract

Dematerialization of local governments and environmental economics go hand in hand in pursuing sustainable development and environmental protection. Dematerialization, a concept in environmental economics, refers to reducing material consumption enabling economic growth without a commensurate increase in content consumption and associated environmental impacts [2]. This tendency to do more with less is essential to the municipalities' environmental economy. Advances in technology and the digital skills of municipal employees will be critical in accelerating the adoption of dematerialization practices in municipalities. One of the ways municipalities can transition to dematerialization is through digital management processes. Employees' digital skills are essential for the change to take place successfully. First, it is necessary to assess employees' existing skills in detail, then, based on the research results, develop a plan for improving the weakest skills in particular courses. The aim of this study was to assess the digital competencies and work habits of municipal administration employees in municipalities of three different countries � Liepaja Municipality (ML) (Latvia), Vila Nova de Poiares Municipality (MVNP) (Portugal) and Mielec Municipality (MM) (Poland). The research was based on a survey of city council department employees and a review of the relevant literature. The survey was conducted in 2022; 279 respondents participated in it, answering 72 questions. As a result of the research, recommendations were developed for the employees of local government administrations to improve digital competence and the transition to electronic document management, which could reduce the local government's impact on the environment and support the implementation of an environmental economy.