Environmental auditors to discuss energy security

Around 80 environmental auditors from 30 national audit institutions will be discussing the wide-ranging topic of energy security during a hybrid meeting hosted by the National Audit Office on May 15 and 16.

The Working Group on Environmental Auditing (WGEA) within the European Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (EUROSAI) selected this theme for the spring session in view of its socio-economic and environmental importance to countries, as well as the substantial funds allocated by governments to reliably and affordably meet energy needs while minimising vulnerabilities to supply disruptions, price fluctuations and geopolitical risks to energy security.

EUROSAI is an independent, non-political organisation established to promote cooperation and foster exchange of ideas, experiences and techniques among supreme audit institutions (SAIS) on government auditing. As one of its working groups, the EUROSAI Working Group on Environmental Auditing (EWGEA), embraces this spirit and aims to promote cooperation based on integrity, open communication, as well as professional excellence in environmental auditing.

Environmental auditing, in principle, is no different from the audit approach practised by SAIS, and it could encompass all types of audit. In this context, audit attention may be devoted to the disclosure of environmental assets and liabilities, compliance with national and international legislation and conventions, and to measures instituted by the audited entity to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness thus promoting the principle of sustainability.

The EWGEA was formally established by a resolution of the fourth EUROSAI Congress held in Paris, in 1999 where to date, the number of SAIS who are listed as members in the working group amounts to 46. Currently, SAI Poland holds the EWGEA chair.

The National Audit Office has been active in EWGEA since its inception. Throughout this period, William Peplow has been the NAO’S representative. Of note is that the NAO has participated in various parallel or cooperative audits under the auspices of the EWGEA. These audits recognise the cross-border implications of environmental issues and, to this end, SAIS cooperate and share knowledge to undertake this type of audits – which are generally performance audits.

The NAO has participated or led such audits on topics related to marine pollution from ships, climate change adaptation, marine protected areas and plastic waste management. The NAO has also served as a member of the Steering Committee for the last nine years. In the early days of the EWGEA, the NAO held the role of sub-coordinator for the Mediterranean region.

EWGEA events and activities aim to address common environmental concerns prevailing within the working group’s region. It is SAIS themselves that propose potential topics of interest through annual surveys.

As noted earlier, the theme of this year’s spring session is energy security. This platform will discuss energy security as the availability of energy at affordable prices. It also seeks to discuss the sustainability elements related to energy security. The discussion will also encompass the conduct of audits related to the availability and use of critical raw materials. The meeting will also focus on the net zero strategies being developed and implemented across Europe.

Andy Kerr, chief strategy officer, Climate-kic Holding B.V, and Prof. Ing. Cyril Spiteri Staines from the University of Malta will be delivering the meeting’s keynote presentations. The spring session will also include presentations by SAIS on topics related to the energy security theme. These discussions will focus on the methodologies adopted, challenges encountered, as well as audit findings, conclusions and recommendations proposed by the respective SAIS when auditing this sector.

The auditor general, Charles Deguara, will be welcoming delegates and holding meetings with the three heads of SAIS, who will be in Malta to participate in this event. Deguara will also be delivering the spring session’s opening speech.

Additionally, NAO officials, Maria Azzopardi, Karl Galea and Mtesmarie Busutill will be delivering two presentations involving audits related to measures encouraging the uptake of renewable energy and on an ongoing review of the electricity utility company’s investments towards a reliable electricity distribution network.

The NAO will also be leading an online workshop titled: ‘Challenges encountered by SAIS in auditing energy security through renewable energy and energy efficiency measures’.

This year the EWGEA will be also commemorating its 25th anniversary where the Spring Session being held in Malta celebrating this milestone. The heads of SAIS Poland, Norway and Estonia will be delivering commemorative speeches in their roles as the incumbent or previous chairs of the EWGEA.

Further information on the event and the EWGEA can be accessed from www. eurosaiwgea.org/.

“Event to discuss energy security as the availability of energy at affordable prices