Environmental Auditing: The Fourth “E” Available to Purchase

Environmental protection and sustainable development are problems facing both developed and developing countries. Decisions are difficult and have far‐reaching consequences. There are problems with finite resources, competing and conflicting demands, and hard choices. The contribution of environmental or “green” audits in tackling these issues and the inter‐relationship with questions of economy,efficiency and effectiveness are addressed. The need to strengthen information and analysis as a basis for decision taking, and to build up an agreed and verified database on environmental issues is identified. The contribution of accountants and auditors in environmental issues, in partnership with other skills, is reviewed and the key requirements for assessing environmental performance and results, and securing effective public accountability and reporting, are discussed.