The goals of the INTOSAI WGEA 2023–2030 Strategy are implemented in 2023-2025 through six projects which focuses on two overall themes 1) Climate and Biodiversity, and 2) Green Economy.
Climate change is a fundamental challenge to the environment and world economy as well as public sector budgets. As there is an increasing need for urgent action, it is important that the adopted policies, measures, and funding are effective, and this is where the SAIs can play an important role.
Climate is also the topic that WGEA member SAIs have expressed the most interest in from recent surveys. In the WGEA member survey conducted in 2020, it was the second most popular topic for future action, right after sustainable development. In the 2021 global WGEA survey, climate change adaptation was the most popular audit topic for SAIs in next few years, as was the 13 SDG on climate action.
Over ten years ago in 2010, the INTOSAI WGEA published a global collaborative audit on climate change. Whereas the coordinated audits have usually taken place at the WGEA regions, this was the first global cooperative audit. Ever since, there has been an increasing call for new global collaborative audits. The 2023-2025 work plan answers to this with two joint projects. In addition, the work plan includes a more conceptual project that considers the interlinkages between climate and biodiversity and methodological development around systems thinking.
Projects under the hub:
According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), a green economy is defined as low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive. In a green economy, growth in employment and income are driven by public and private investment into economic activities, infrastructure and assets that allow reduced carbon emissions and pollution, enhanced energy and resource efficiency, and prevention of the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Under the green economy hub, the INTOSAI WGEA attempts to increase awareness of the economic impacts of environmental issues and their implications to public sector budgets.
Projects under the hub:
The first INTOSAI WGEA podcast episode discusses taxation for green transition with Senior Economic Affairs Officer Joy Aeree Kim from the UN Environment Programme and International Director Khalid Ha…
Online training on environmental auditing for public sector auditors is offered again this autumn by the National Audit Office of Estonia and the University of Tartu. Two Massive Open Online Courses (…
Fraud and corruption are one aspect that Supreme Audit Institutions encounter in their work. The INTOSAI WGEA had a project on fraud and corruption in 2011-2013, noting that there is a growing body of…
The INTOSAI Working Group on Environmental Auditing (WGEA) aims to increase the expertise in environmental auditing and to enhance environmental governance with high-quality contribution and visibility by both members of the Working Group and non–member SAIs. Currently the INTOSAI WGEA consists of 86 member countries.
