Head of the Economic Activities Audit Department of the State Audit Office Tornike Shermadini and Maka Chikhoria, Chief Auditor, took part in the 26th joint symposium of the United Nations (UN) and the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) in Vienna.
The symposium was attended by 220 participants representing 80 SAIs worldwide. The UN/INTOSAI symposium contribute to research and methodology development in public sector auditing by facilitating the exchange of subject-specific experiences and information.
Tornike Shermadini presented at the UN/INTOSAI symposium on the role of the State Audit Office in the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 13 (SDG13) plan for sustainable development. He emphasized the importance of the implementation of audits and recommendations made by the SAO in environmental protection and highlighted that the SAO conducts audits on environmental issues every year.
The State Audit Office’s efforts toward SDG13 encompasses sectors addressing climate-related issues, such as biodiversity protection measures; recording, analysis and use of meteorological, hydrological and geological data; management of emergency situations caused by floods; management of emergency situations caused by forest fires; ambient air quality; quality of water supply, greenery.
At the symposium, representatives of countries from different regions of the world presented presentations on specific examples related to climate change from their audits. Examples were provided of measures taken by countries leading to significant improvements in environmental and public health protection.
According to symposium participants, no field or sector remains outside the influence of climate change, which causes both environmental and human health damage, as well as significant financial risks.
The symposium concluded that SAIs can play a critical role in mitigating climate change risks.
Symposium participants collaboratively developed recommendations for audit organizations’ future practices to prevent and minimize societal harm from climate change.
