UNEP staff's air travel invites strict funding assessment

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Europe

Denmark and Sweden are reportedly considering stronger assessment before releasing funds to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), in the wake of a recent controversy involving its staff's frequent air travel.

A draft internal audit by the UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) is particularly critical of Erik Solheim, head of UNEP. Solheim spent 488,518 US dollars on air travel using 80 percent of his time outside the office in the 22 months since he joined, the audit report found.

The issue first reported by Aftenposten, a Norway-based media outlet, revealed UN environment staff spent nearly 58 million US dollars on air travel in the last two years, double the amount spent during 2014-2017.

Out of 596 trips made by 32 managers and other staff, only 210 travel reports were submitted. The audit team found reports of the rest of the trips missing.

'Funding not halted'

Frequent air travel raised sharp criticism from various green groups and governments funding UNEP.

“Currently, we are preparing support for a new phase of cooperation with UNEP, where assessment of internal control and control issues is a part of a larger assessment of the organization,” the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), said in an email response to CGTN.

SIDA maintained they are not “halting” or “freezing” funding to UNEP as reported by a section of international media. “We have no funds left to pay under current agreement; last and final payment was in 2017, so it's technically not about a freezing,” a SIDA spokesperson told CGTN.

The government of Denmark, Guardian reported, has taken a similar stance on the issue. “The ministry is familiar with the criticism of Solheim's travel activities,” Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman told the Guardian.

“We take this seriously. We are now awaiting the final audit report and its possible recommendations before we pay additional funds.”

Erik Solheim, in a statement to the BBC regarding the concerns raised in the draft audit report, maintained the Office of Internal Oversight Services earlier this year investigated all of his travels in great detail and found three instances of oversight out of all of them.

“The money was refunded immediately. If any other mistakes are found, we will immediately correct them,” Solheim said.

(Cover Image: An internal draft audit report claims globetrotting UNEP head Erik Solheim undertook excessive air travel. /Xinhua Photo)