21st INTOSAI WGEA Steering Committee Meeting Held in Thimphu, Bhutan
07.04.2026
Thimphu, Bhutan | 16–18 March 2026
The 21st Steering Committee Meeting of the INTOSAI Working Group on Environmental Auditing (WGEA) was successfully held in Thimphu, Bhutan, from 16 to 18 March 2026, hosted by the Royal Audit Authority (RAA) of Bhutan in close collaboration with the State Audit Office of the Kingdom of Thailand, serving as Chair and Secretariat of INTOSAI WGEA. The programme included an environmental excursion and team-building activity on 16 March, followed by the formal Steering Committee sessions on 17–18 March 2026.
The meeting brought together Steering Committee members and participating Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) for substantive exchanges on the progress of ongoing WGEA projects, the future strategic direction of the Working Group, and the broader role of environmental auditing in responding to increasingly complex and interconnected global challenges. As highlighted in the opening materials, the meeting was designed around three core purposes: reviewing progress, deepening professional exchange, and reflecting strategically on WGEA’s future value for INTOSAI.
👨💼Opening Session and Institutional Leadership
The formal opening session featured welcome remarks by H.E. Dasho Jamtsho, Auditor General of Bhutan, special remarks by H.E. Vital do Rêgo Filho, President of SAI Brazil and former INTOSAI Chairman, and opening remarks by H.E. Mr. Monthien Charoenpol, Auditor General of Thailand and Chair of INTOSAI WGEA.
H.E. Dasho Jamtsho, H.E. Vital do Rego Filho Minister
Auditor General of Bhutan President of the Federal Accounts, Brazil
H.E. Monthien Charoenpol,
Auditor General of Thailand,
Chair of INTOSAI WGEA
The opening address emphasized that environmental challenges are becoming more complex, interconnected, and urgent, and that environmental auditing is correspondingly becoming broader, more strategic, and more relevant to public policy, public finance, and accountability. The materials also underscored that climate change, water stress, biodiversity loss, and sustainability transition are now central issues requiring stronger oversight by SAIs.
🧑💻Technical Discussions Across the WGEA Project Portfolio
Over the course of the two-day formal meeting, Steering Committee members reviewed and discussed a wide range of ongoing and emerging WGEA projects. On Day 1, project discussions covered air pollution, chemical pollution, blue value, blue economy, food security and water scarcity, cooperative audit on water, energy transition, ClimateScanner, assurance of climate-related disclosures, climate action audits: closing the loop, and land desertification prevention audits.
Dr. Vivi Niemenmaa
Advisor to the State Audit Office of the Kingdom of Thailand,
Chair of INTOSAI WGEA
On Day 2, the agenda continued with presentations on nexus biodiversity–climate–water, Environmentally Harmful Subsidies (EHS), green procurement, disaster risk reduction training, updating MOOCs, and the environmental audit handbook, followed by a presentation and discussion on the WGEA Projects Tracker.
These discussions reflected the breadth of WGEA’s current work and demonstrated the Working Group’s effort to connect technical substance with practical cooperation across SAIs. The opening presentation also highlighted the value of the meeting in terms of technical substance, cooperation, and shared purpose.
👨💼Strategic Discussion on the Future Direction of WGEA
A major component of the meeting was the Strategic Discussion Session, which focused on the future direction of INTOSAI WGEA. Topics included communication with stakeholders, strategic engagement with IDI, the Audit & Assurance of Sustainability Reporting in the Public Sector Initiative (AASuRe) and the Global Cooperative Audit of Climate Change Adaptation Actions (CCAA), communication priorities of WGEA, visibility and impact of WGEA outputs, experience-sharing from Supreme Audit Office of Poland, Chair of EUROSAI WGEA on a parallel international audit related to forest management and climate change, key environmental issues and global events in 2026, synthesis of WGEA projects, and updates on WGEA guidance on environmental auditing.
The strategic segment reinforced the importance of positioning WGEA not only as a platform for project delivery, but also as a collaborative space for shaping the future of environmental accountability within INTOSAI.
🧑💻Appreciation and Looking Ahead
The meeting materials expressed appreciation to project leads, participating SAIs, young auditors, and partners for their commitment, expertise, and collaboration in keeping WGEA active and meaningful.
As WGEA moves forward, the outcomes of the 21st Steering Committee Meeting are expected to support more connected, forward-looking, and impactful environmental audits across the INTOSAI community. The meeting in Thimphu reaffirmed the continued relevance of WGEA in helping SAIs respond to the pressing governance challenges associated with climate change, water stress, biodiversity loss, and sustainability transition.
The Secretariat extends its sincere appreciation to the Royal Audit Authority of Bhutan for its warm hospitality and excellent arrangements, and to all Steering Committee members and participants for their active engagement and valuable contributions throughout the meeting.
