What's on the Agenda?

The second day of the Assembly includes parallel sessions related to the theme of water and the INTOSAI WGEA 2023-2025 Projects under the two thematic hubs: Climate & Biodiversity and Green Economy. The parallel sessions are conducted in three time slots, divided in four streams.

Session 1

1. Water stream: Audit cases on marine pollution | European Court of Auditors, SAI Finland & SAI Tanzania

2. Innovative forms of reporting on environmental auditing | SAI Canada & SAI Czech Republic

3. Nexus stream: Hands-on workshop on sustainability reporting for public sector change | SAI Thailand & SAI Indonesia

Sustainability Reporting (SR) is increasingly recognized as a vital element of good governance, particularly in the context of environmental and performance auditing. While numerous public sector institutions have begun referencing SR frameworks such as the GRI or SDG Compass, many Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) still face challenges in applying these concepts in ways that are practical, context-sensitive, and audit-relevant. 

This mini workshop aims to bridge the gap between knowledge and application by providing an opportunity for INTOSAI WGEA members to explore and test-drive sustainability reporting concepts in a hands-on, collaborative setting.

Participants will co-create a basic SR “snapshot” using real-world themes and indicators, and reflect on how SR can be better utilized within the audit cycle, particularly in the areas of environmental and SDG-related audits.

4. Capacity building stream with CIPFA: Workshop on CIPFA’s performance audit certification | Khalid Hamid & Steve Watkins, CIPFA

As environmental and performance audits grow in complexity and importance, the need for qualified professionals has never been greater. Why do these auditors, who often review billion-dollar programs with wide-reaching implications for many generations, remain without a formal credential? Why does this gap persist and how can qualifications elevate the profession’s credibility and impact? This session discusses the performance auditor certification with CIPFA's International Director Khalid Hamid and International Relationship Manager Steve Watkins and the environmental audit community.

Session 2

1. Water stream: Audit cases on marine protection and sustainable fishing | SAI Egypt, SAI Indonesia & SAI Portugal

2. Drinking water stream: Audit cases on drinking water projects | SAI Algeria, SAI Maldives, SAI Poland & SAI Thailand

3. Nexus stream: CCAA Breaking News & Collective Insights: Shaping the Future of Adaptation Audit | WGEA Secretariat & INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI)

This session will open with a dynamic news-style presentation, unveiling the latest findings from the CCAA audit reports as “breaking news.” Key contributors will be interviewed to highlight major insights. After that, participants will engage in group discussions to explore common messages emerging from the audits and address how SAIs can increase the impact of their audits by effectively communicating findings and engaging decision-makers to drive real improvements in adaptation efforts. The session aims to foster shared understanding and strengthen collaboration around climate change adaptation auditing.

4. Capacity building Workshop on Handbook on Environmental Auditing

Session 3

1. Water stream: Audit cases on climate change and water scarcity | Audit Office of New South Wales, SAI Cyprus, SAI Malta & SAI Kenya

2. Drinking Water stream: Audit cases on drinking water supply amid multiple pressures and long-term considerations | SAI India, SAI Slovenia & SAI Ukraine

3. Nexus stream: Workshop on Environmentally Harmful Subsidies | IISD Senior Policy Advisor and Lead Farooq Ullah, SAI Canada & SAI Estonia

This workshop focuses on environmentally harmful subsidies, including subsidies for fossil fuels. Farooq Ullah, Senior Policy Advisor and Lead, Energy and Climate Governance in IISD’s Energy Program, from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), will present IISD’s work in this area. The session will also feature audit examples from SAIs of Canada and Estonia related to the topic.

Participants will explore how Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) can engage with environmentally harmful subsidies and discuss opportunities for further collaboration with IISD and the INTOSAI WGEA

4. Capacity building stream: ClimateScanner: Results, Reflections, and the Road Ahead | SAI Brazil

This session will present state-of-the-art results and recent developments from the ClimateScanner initiative, offering insights into how SAIs are assessing national climate governance, financing, and public policies. Participants will be invited to discuss the future of the project and the next steps for the initiative, providing contributions on how to enhance collaboration, optimize processes and resources, and increase the global impact of ClimateScanner and climate-related audits.