Joint Report on the Results of the International Audit on Waste Management and Utilization

Report ID: 366

The International Coordinated Audit on Waste Management and Utilization was conducted in the framework of the EUROSAI Working Group on the Audit of Funds Allocated to Disasters and Catastrophes. The purposes of the national audits – were to assess the state and efficiency of the waste management system in the countries participants of the audit.

The Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine participated in the audit. The SAI of Ukraine was the audit coordinator, The aim of national audits was to assess the state and effectiveness of the waste management system in countries of SAIs– participants of the international audit. The scope of the audit comprised from 2015-2018.

The results of the national audits conducted in the field of household, industrial and other hazardous waste, which can pose a serious threat to human health and the environment, as well as lead to environmental and man-made disasters, showed: for those countries, whose SAIs participated in the audit, common inconsistencies/gaps and problems within existing waste management systems

The results of the cooperative audit indicate the need to strengthen the governments’ efforts to move from the existing linear economy to a circular economy based on the maximum processing of waste generated in the territories of countries as well as the creation of an integrated waste management system in accordance with the EU “waste management hierarchy” in order to reduce the negative impact on the environment, public health and prevent the occurrence of environmental and man-made disasters.

Fuente:  EUROSAI Database of Audits -  https://www.eurosai.org/en/databases/audits/Joint-Report-on-the-Results-of-the-International-Audit-on-Waste-Management-and-Utilization/

Lights on in the Nordic countries - Nordic cooperation in electricity emergency preparedness (Abstract)

Report ID: 368

In 2008, the  national audit offices of Finland, Denmark and Norway conducted a parallel audit, in order to examine Nordic cooperation in electricity emergency preparedness to respond to large-scale disturbances in the grid and to repair damage effectively. The audit also examined national preparedness for emergencies in electrical supply and emergency planning. 

The national audit offices of Finland, Norway and Denmark concluded that there is not sufficient cooperation among the Nordic countries regarding preparedness to repair serious damage to the grid. Consideration should be given to whether repair preparedness cooperation in case of a serious disturbance in the Nordic electrical system should be given priority and strengthened as part of Nordic electricity emergency preparedness. In the national audit offices' opinion, consideration should also be given to linking the responsible national authorities more clearly to Nordic electricity emergency preparedness.

The document contains a summary of the main results of the audit.

Source: https://www.vtv.fi/app/uploads/2018/07/09131416/lights-on-in-the-nordic-countries-176-2008.pdf

Executive Summary Renewable Sources – Coordinated Audit

Report ID: 369

The Latin American and Caribbean Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (OLACEFS), through the Public Works Audit Working Group (GTOP), chose the topic of renewable energies in the electricity sector to carry out a coordinated audit. Due to the importance of the expansion of renewable energy for mitigating the effects of climate change, this audit had the technical support through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), within the scope of the project Strengthening External Control in the Environmental Area.

The Supreme Audit Institutions of Brazil (Coordinator), Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay and Venezuela participated in the joint work. This made it possible to promote an exchange of information on the energy policies adopted in each country and a subsequent consolidation of the results of the audit, with the aim of contributing to the improvement of strategies aimed at expanding clean sources in the electricity matrix.

The purpose of the audit was to evaluate the public policies for the inclusion of renewable sources in the electricity generation mix of the participating countries, including the international commitments assumed, as well as related governmental guidelines, especially identifying good practices and opportunities for improvement in these policies, so as to contribute to the achievement of the commitments assumed through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the Paris Agreement.

The specific objectives addressed by the coordinated audit were:

1) To identify the current situation of the electricity matrix in each of the OLACEFS participating member countries;

2) To evaluate whether there are public policies in place to achieve national and/or international commitments for the expansion of renewable energies in the electricity sector, especially for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement;

3) Analyze investments in infrastructure for the generation of sustainable electrical energy (water, wind, solar, biomass, tidal, etc.) and possible existing barriers to the insertion/expansion of this infrastructure, especially in relation to aspects related to operational challenges, regulatory issues, subsidy and promotion policies, energy security, energy prices, tariff modulation, among others. The report contains good practices.

* The executive summary is available in Portuguese and Spanish on this catalogue.

Source: https://portal.tcu.gov.br/data/files/FE/42/A0/E2/A500371055EB6E27E18818A8/Energias_renovaveis_ingles.pdf

Resumo Executivo - Auditoria Coordenada das Áreas Protegidas (1ª edição)

Report ID: 372

As Áreas Protegidas (AP) são criadas considerando as características naturais relevantes dos territórios, com fronteiras geográficas definidas, e como uma resposta à necessidade de conservação da biodiversidade. Estas áreas são reconhecidas pela Convenção das Nações Unidas sobre Diversidade Biológica (CDB) como uma estratégia global para a conservação da biodiversidade. Neste sentido, o compromisso internacional estabelece objectivos para a protecção de áreas terrestres e marinhas que devem ser alcançados através da implementação de sistemas de áreas protegidas ecologicamente representativos e geridos de forma eficaz.

Neste contexto, no âmbito das actividades da Comissão Técnica Especial sobre Ambiente (COMTEMA) da Organização das Instituições Supremas de Auditoria da América Latina e Caraíbas (OLACEFS), as Instituições Supremas de Auditoria (ISC) da Argentina, Bolívia, Brasil (ISC Coordenadora), Colômbia, Costa Rica, Equador, El Salvador, Honduras, México, Paraguai (ISC Coordenadora), Peru e Venezuela realizaram uma auditoria coordenada. Esta auditoria foi apoiada pela Cooperação Alemã GIZ.

A auditoria avaliou se as áreas protegidas terrestres na América Latina possuem as condições institucionais, regulamentares e operacionais necessárias para alcançar os objectivos para os quais foram criadas. Como parte desta auditoria, foi possível avaliar 1120 áreas protegidas de uma forma padronizada, o que permitiu a elaboração de um diagnóstico sem precedentes da política pública de conservação da biodiversidade na região.

Para analisar a governação de áreas protegidas, o TCU criou o INDIMAPA, um método para avaliar a implementação e gestão de áreas protegidas. Esta ferramenta geo-referenciada utiliza indicadores e índices que são visualizados em mapas, para além de permitir a classificação das áreas protegidas em três gamas: vermelho, amarelo e verde, correspondentes respectivamente ao baixo, médio e alto nível de implementação da gestão. Desta forma, a partir da auditoria coordenada, a sociedade e as Instituições de Controlo poderão acompanhar a evolução na gestão do património público ambiental representado pelas áreas protegidas.

Fonte: https://portal.tcu.gov.br/biblioteca-digital/auditoria-coordenada-nas-areas-protegidas-da-america-latina.htm

** Este relatório está também disponível em inglês e espanhol no catálogo.

Executive Summary of the consolidated Report of the Arab Countries Participating in the Cooperative Audit Task on Solid Waste Management and Recycling

Report ID: 380

Waste management is crucial for all countries around the world. It serves to find and effective and efficient system for mitigating any potential environmental risks resulting from the increasing amounts of different types of waste. The phenomenon of the increase in solid waste is spreading across some Arab countries and worldwide.

In 2017, the Executive Council of ARABOSAI mandated the participant Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) to prepare a cooperative report on “Performance Assessment of Solid Waste Management”. The SAIs of Kuwait, Oman, Palestine and Sudan agreed to carry out a performance audit on the efficiency and effectiveness of government entities responsible for the management and recycling of the solid waste in an efficient and effective manner.

The purpose of the audit was:

• To assess the efficiency and effectiveness of stakeholders with respect to their management of solid waste in the participant countries,
• Verifying the effectiveness of waste treatment and recycling programmes, as well as assessing the impact of such programs on reducing the adverse effects of using improper methods in dealing with waste particularly hazardous waste,
• Assessing how effective are the development projects pertaining to the solid waste management systems and the optimal utilization of waste constituents,
• Assess the actions taken by the entities concerned with waste management in order to reduce solid waste products and ensure optimal disposal and recycling of wastes in an efficient and effective manner.

Different audit methodologies were adopted by the participating countries. SAI Sudan and SAI Oman assessed the role of auditees in the management of solid waste. For example, SAI Kuwait evaluated projects related to the management of solid waste and risk management assessment on stakeholders. The SAI of Oman performed a KPI assessment to evaluate operating companies.

The consolidated report was prepared under the supervision of the Arab Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ARABOSAI).

Source: Kindly shared by ARABOSAI