Sydney, Australia: The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) has gathered heads of government audit offices from across Australasia and the Pacific Islands for the 11th meeting of the Regional Working Group on Environmental Auditing (RWGEA).

The Audit Office of New South Wales is hosting the event from 9 to 11 May 2023 which will reflect themes that relate to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 13 to 15, summarised as Climate Action, Life Below Water and Life On Land.

Dr Vivi Niemenmaa, Secretary-General of the international working group above the RWGEA, is attending from Finland in person to facilitate training on environmental performance auditing.

PASAI Chief Executive, Esther Lameko-Poutoa, is using the event to better understand the needs of member offices who will likely be including environmental issues in their audit plans.

Ms Lameko-Poutoa emphasised the regional significance of the meeting saying, “Climate change disproportionately affects small island states in the Pacific.

“An upcoming global cooperative audit of climate change adaptation actions presents an opportunity for our members to make a meaningful contribution to addressing this international issue.”

Attendees of the gathering will also hear from expert speakers on the topics of auditing threats to biodiversity and government responses to climate risk.

Lead Partner at Deloitte and Worimi man, Professor Deen Sanders OAM, will present on using Indigenous knowledge to inform an understanding of climate and biodiversity.

Attendees will also be able to participate in practical workshops to scope potential environmental/climate change audits.

PASAI acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

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Contact information:

Esther Lameko-Poutoa, Chief Executive PASAI, Auckland, New Zealand
E: secretariat@pasai.org P: +64 9 304 1275

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