Connecting the SDGs: WGEA work on sustainable development

14.07.2025

The annual High Level Political Forum (HLPF) is currently meeting in New York. HLPF is a key follow-up mechanism of the United Nations 2023 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). As governments present their Voluntary National Reviews, INTOSAI WGEA continues to support the follow-up and review process with a strong emphasis on policy coherence and the interlinkages between the SDGs.

INTOSAI WGEA has worked especially with the interlinkages of individual SDGs. In 2022, WGEA published a report on policy coherence and multistakeholder engagement, offering tools and methods to assess these topics. wgea.org/media/auzf4emi/wgea-wp5_sustainabledevelopementgoals_2022.pdf. In the summary report of the Work Plan 2020-2022, WGEA also stressed the need to is the to stay alert regarding emerging issues and topics within the sustainable development space. Enhancing Understanding of the Environmental Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS): Summary of INTOSAI WGEA Work on Plastic Waste, Climate Finance, and Sustainable Transport

Since 2023, WGEA has focused on the interlinkages between climate change and biodiversity loss. This nexus reveals that even closely related policy fields can entail trade-offs, but also potential for synergies. On the one hand, typical trade-offs between climate and biodiversity appear in renewable energy projects. On the other hand, especially the nature-based solutions can create co-benefits helping to tackle both biodiversity and climate targets. Read the report

Every year, the HLPF focuses on selected SDGs. This year, one of the SDGs under scrutiny is the SDG 14 on Life below water. WGEA published in June a bulletin on marine-related audits in the WGEA audit database. These audits call better monitoring and more effective budget spending. In the context of the UN Ocean Conference in June, WGEA also made an Ocean Commitment, including dedicating one thematic hub on water-related topics in the next WGEA Work Plan 2026-2028. “Auditing our Blue Planet” was also the special theme of the 23rd INTOSAI WGEA Assembly held in Malta in 1 – 3 June. 

As the National Audit Office of Finland is concluding its INTOSAI WGEA Chairmanship period, it is a good moment to reflect what we have done for the #SDGs: Intosai Working Group on Environmental Auditing