MOOC: Introduction to environmental auditing in the public sector

Exercise 2

Planning: selecting topic for an environmental audit

 

Match the explanations with the terms.

Keeping costs low
Performance auditing

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Effectiveness

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Added value of an audit

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Economy

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Efficiency

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Preliminary study

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Getting the most from available resources
Performance auditing

Unselect

Effectiveness

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Added value of an audit

Unselect

Economy

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Efficiency

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Preliminary study

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Meeting the objectives set
Performance auditing

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Effectiveness

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Added value of an audit

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Economy

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Efficiency

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Preliminary study

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Analysing and assessing the performance of government programs or public services
Performance auditing

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Effectiveness

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Added value of an audit

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Economy

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Efficiency

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Preliminary study

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New knowledge produced during the audit
Performance auditing

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Effectiveness

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Added value of an audit

Unselect

Economy

Unselect

Efficiency

Unselect

Preliminary study

Unselect

A phase before commencing an audit with the aim to gain a better understanding of the nature and relevance of the issue
Performance auditing

Unselect

Effectiveness

Unselect

Added value of an audit

Unselect

Economy

Unselect

Efficiency

Unselect

Preliminary study

Unselect

Methods in the preliminary study phase to identify and clarify environmental problems. Link the method and the example/question (topic: management, collection and recycling of municipal waste)

MethodExample/question

 

The Internet, media review
Ministry of the Environment, local authorities, Environmental Inspectorate. What is done to collect municipal waste separately and to achieve recycling targets?

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Local green associations, local communities. What are citizens’ concerns?

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State funds for supporting waste management or new technology/innovation

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Waste management association. What are the obstacles in legislation to recycle waste?

Unselect

Waste Act, directives on local authorities related to waste management

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Keywords for the Internet search “municipal waste management”, “problems related to municipal waste management”, etc.

Unselect

Seminar: “Current state of municipal waste management. What are the challenges and opportunities?”

Unselect

Studying legislation
Ministry of the Environment, local authorities, Environmental Inspectorate. What is done to collect municipal waste separately and to achieve recycling targets?

Unselect

Local green associations, local communities. What are citizens’ concerns?

Unselect

State funds for supporting waste management or new technology/innovation

Unselect

Waste management association. What are the obstacles in legislation to recycle waste?

Unselect

Waste Act, directives on local authorities related to waste management

Unselect

Keywords for the Internet search “municipal waste management”, “problems related to municipal waste management”, etc.

Unselect

Seminar: “Current state of municipal waste management. What are the challenges and opportunities?”

Unselect

Analysis of major expenditures
Ministry of the Environment, local authorities, Environmental Inspectorate. What is done to collect municipal waste separately and to achieve recycling targets?

Unselect

Local green associations, local communities. What are citizens’ concerns?

Unselect

State funds for supporting waste management or new technology/innovation

Unselect

Waste management association. What are the obstacles in legislation to recycle waste?

Unselect

Waste Act, directives on local authorities related to waste management

Unselect

Keywords for the Internet search “municipal waste management”, “problems related to municipal waste management”, etc.

Unselect

Seminar: “Current state of municipal waste management. What are the challenges and opportunities?”

Unselect

Seminars and workshops
Ministry of the Environment, local authorities, Environmental Inspectorate. What is done to collect municipal waste separately and to achieve recycling targets?

Unselect

Local green associations, local communities. What are citizens’ concerns?

Unselect

State funds for supporting waste management or new technology/innovation

Unselect

Waste management association. What are the obstacles in legislation to recycle waste?

Unselect

Waste Act, directives on local authorities related to waste management

Unselect

Keywords for the Internet search “municipal waste management”, “problems related to municipal waste management”, etc.

Unselect

Seminar: “Current state of municipal waste management. What are the challenges and opportunities?”

Unselect

Meetings with NGOs, local people
Ministry of the Environment, local authorities, Environmental Inspectorate. What is done to collect municipal waste separately and to achieve recycling targets?

Unselect

Local green associations, local communities. What are citizens’ concerns?

Unselect

State funds for supporting waste management or new technology/innovation

Unselect

Waste management association. What are the obstacles in legislation to recycle waste?

Unselect

Waste Act, directives on local authorities related to waste management

Unselect

Keywords for the Internet search “municipal waste management”, “problems related to municipal waste management”, etc.

Unselect

Seminar: “Current state of municipal waste management. What are the challenges and opportunities?”

Unselect

Meeting with interest groups (e.g. sectoral associations)
Ministry of the Environment, local authorities, Environmental Inspectorate. What is done to collect municipal waste separately and to achieve recycling targets?

Unselect

Local green associations, local communities. What are citizens’ concerns?

Unselect

State funds for supporting waste management or new technology/innovation

Unselect

Waste management association. What are the obstacles in legislation to recycle waste?

Unselect

Waste Act, directives on local authorities related to waste management

Unselect

Keywords for the Internet search “municipal waste management”, “problems related to municipal waste management”, etc.

Unselect

Seminar: “Current state of municipal waste management. What are the challenges and opportunities?”

Unselect

Interviews with auditees, stakeholders
Ministry of the Environment, local authorities, Environmental Inspectorate. What is done to collect municipal waste separately and to achieve recycling targets?

Unselect

Local green associations, local communities. What are citizens’ concerns?

Unselect

State funds for supporting waste management or new technology/innovation

Unselect

Waste management association. What are the obstacles in legislation to recycle waste?

Unselect

Waste Act, directives on local authorities related to waste management

Unselect

Keywords for the Internet search “municipal waste management”, “problems related to municipal waste management”, etc.

Unselect

Seminar: “Current state of municipal waste management. What are the challenges and opportunities?”

Unselect

Environmental audits are usually conducted as performance audits and therefore follow the concept of the 3 Es – economy|efficiency and effectiveness. By and large|we can say that the economy aspect focuses on the |and the efficiency aspect focuses on the of the audited issue.

When searching for environmental issues|an auditor can look for activities that may have an effect on ecosystems. Such activities can have local|regional or global impact.

Before conducting an audit|the following is conducted with the aim of better understanding the nature and relevance of the selected environmental issue: 

During this phase|auditors need to understand the key threats to natural resources|their main causes and the risks these threats pose to economic development|social prosperity and the quality of the environment. Moreover|it is crucial to understand the roles and responsibilities of all  in the sector.

After identifying the risks and considering the available resources|an auditor is better able to  and focus on the environmental problems identified in the  phase and is ready to continue planning the audit|decide on the audit objective and develop the questions and criteria. 

Order the phases of the auditing cycle so that number 1 represents the earliest and number 7 the latest stage.

Pre-study to select the audit topic
2

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3

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4

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5

Unselect

1

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6

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7

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Planning the audit (Audit Design Matrix)
2

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3

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4

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5

Unselect

1

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6

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7

Unselect

Field work
2

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3

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4

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5

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1

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6

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7

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Analysing the findings
2

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3

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4

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5

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1

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6

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7

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Writing the report
2

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3

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4

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5

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1

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6

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7

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Publication of the audit report
2

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3

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4

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5

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1

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6

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7

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Follow up activities
2

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3

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4

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5

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1

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6

Unselect

7

Unselect

In determining the relevance of an audit issue, it is useful to pay attention to following aspects (select four):


 

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